Zimbabwe V Ireland 5th T20I [Match Thread]

[Jemisi]

Pleased we didn't go down 4-1.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Yeah, 3-2 looks much more respectable than 4-1. Also, with the right mix of youth and experience, we could have easily won this. Years later, people will just look at the score line and say Zim lost the series to Ireland. No one would care about the fact that our own management sabotaged it

No excuses now for the 3-0 in ODIs, but as Kriterion says, they might have a momentum and rusty seniors would mean that we might anyway lose those too. There is already the cloud of injury with Burl and Ervine.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

3-2 against Ireland not acceptable

[Jemisi]

Any news on Burls ankle?

[ZIMDOGGY]

Yeah, 3-2 looks much more respectable than 4-1. Also, with the right mix of youth and experience, we could have easily won this. Years later, people will just look at the score line and say Zim lost the series to Ireland. No one would care about the fact that our own management sabotaged it

No excuses now for the 3-0 in ODIs, but as Kriterion says, they might have a momentum and rusty seniors would mean that we might anyway lose those too. There is already the cloud of injury with Burl and Ervine.

That’s right,
And why did they decide that 5 t20’s didn’t mean anything but the 3 ODIs do!?
We really can’t afford to fuck around with associate teams just below us. It discredits our standing on the world stage and ultimately our funding.

[sam_ahm]

Such a shame because the T20 WC in UAE will be played on slow wickets which zimba we would have enjoyed a lot more than the likes of Dutch, Scots and Irish. Sadly they won't be playing.

As an ICC event, the tracks will be slow in the sense that it won't be the WACA. But as an ICC event, you can bet it won't be 120 wickets or even 150 tracks. The pitches will likely be 170 par score tracks. Of course some of the smaller sides might get shot out for 80 all out in the qualifying round, but the Super 12s will be 170-180 par score.

Ideally yes mate but considering one month of IPL just prior to the T20 WC, I have a feeling we might see 150 type pitches. Also Zimbabwe will most likely do better in these conditions than the conditions in Australia next year, let's see.

[zimbos_05]

Just watched the highlights. the 3-2 result definitely flatters us i reckon.

Wes - Got out again by playing a cross batted shot in which there was absolutely no foot movement.
Myers - Got playing cross batted too, and did not read the pitch of the ball

This is why I say our youngsters are not going to learn anything by constantly playing them. These errors are things the coach should be picking up on and fixing in coaching and training, especially as Wes has gone out the same way twice in a row.

K-Long got out playing a shot that he was trying to send the ball to England. Trying to hit the ball too hard and it meant his head was not still and he was all over the place. He's been around long enough to be worked on, but I reckon he is done if he refuses to fix his game. Ervine is by far the best straight batter we have produce in the last decade. He has such a steady head and keeps his body in position, and plays such classic shots.

Ngarava did well to defend 6 off the last two balls. He didn't overthink the balls and it shows. He needs to do more of that rather than trying to get too fancy with his change up. He played the batter and that was smart on his part.

[Kriterion_BD]

Ideally yes mate but considering one month of IPL just prior to the T20 WC, I have a feeling we might see 150 type pitches. Also Zimbabwe will most likely do better in these conditions than the conditions in Australia next year, let's see.

First round of WC is in Oman and that will last at least 7 days. So between the end of the IPL and beginning of the Super 12 stage there will likely be 10 days to 2 weeks. Enough time to get the pitches fresh again.

I am expecting 170-180 pitches. Lets see what the IPL dishes out.

[CholeZimbo]

From what we saw, if we get Stirling early, Ireland are not much of a batting threat. On paper we should be winning this and Ngarava has looked like a bowler who has benefitted from these 5 games. The experience of defending 5 and 9 in the final over will do him a world of good. The rustiness of our senior batters and the momentum with the Irish bowlers could mean we might lose the 1st ODI. I am going for a 1-2 series win for us. In ODIs, Wes has done better in the middle order but he may have to open with Regis this time.

Madhevere
Chakabva
Ervine/Myers (if Craig is injured)
Taylor
Williams
Raza
Burl/Shumba (if Burl is injured)
Jongwe
Masakadza
Muzarabani
Ngarava

The first choice team can easily beat them if Stirling is managed. Oh and good that there is a warm up game for Taylor, Williams and Raza to get some time in the middle.

[Kriterion_BD]

The first choice team can easily beat them if Stirling is managed. Oh and good that there is a warm up game for Taylor, Williams and Raza to get some time in the middle.

Hey, don't forget the first choice team lost 0-5 to Ireland and Netherlands in 2019. With actual points on the line, the Irish will only push harder. The series will most likely be 2-1, and right now I think Ireland are 60-40 favorites for that scoreline.

Can ZIM win? Yes. Can Ireland win? Yes, but they've got a few more advantages (home field advantage, players getting game time).