1st ODI Zimbabwe vs Ireland

[TapsC2]

Good win. I actually feel like we can take 30 points here. Had BT settled against the spin it would have been a 300 plus score. Very lucky they got him out at that specific moment.

The key ingredient today was experience. The big 4 really showed their worth and Blessing of course.

[secretzimbo]

Rain is all over the cards next game...hopefully we don't end up giving 5 free points to the Irish

That would be awful. Fairly confident we have a chance to take all 30 points here tbh. Feel like loads of our players are all in good form at the right time.

[TapsC2]

If it doesn't rain and the conditions are similar then I think Burl for Myers would be a very good change because of the legspin. That's if Burl has recovered of course

[tej_27]

Rain is all over the cards next game...hopefully we don't end up giving 5 free points to the Irish

That would be awful. Fairly confident we have a chance to take all 30 points here tbh. Feel like loads of our players are all in good form at the right time.

Common we had 6 complete games in Ireland ..that's a miracle ..we have to have a obligatory rain abondoned match now

[CholeZimbo]

I think in the shorter format we now are developing a good economical spinner in Masakadza. Definitely not a test bowler.

What was key today was that Zim had a bank of good bowlers and there wasn't a weak point like in most of our games. It was good bowler after good bowler!

We need to go 2 nil up. At 1-1 we struggle in deciders, rather finish them in game 2. They are really a 2 men team and their bowlers are not better than ours. As long as the top 4 contribute with the bat, I can back our bowlers now. Good times ahead.

It's rare for a winning team to be changed, but maybe Burl for Myers. I can just imagine how everyone on their bench is willing to be part of this winning team. Some healthy competition out there, damn I am excited. Crucial second game, must win.


Congrats gents, I know what these rare victories mean to us here on this forum We deserve it!

[BugsBunny]

Great win I enjoyed that!

We’re so lucky to have Blessing, he’s world class and turned the match with his four wickets in his last two spells

Absolutely, Blessing is a real blessing for Zim. The pace and more importantly the 'BOUNCE' he generates with his tallness make him a better attacking bowler. Stirling was baffled with Blessing's bouncers and Simi Singh never thought that Blessing would test him with two bouncers in a row, thus losing his wicket.

[ZIMFAN]

Only just logged on. One for the old crowd here...was maehara at it?

[secretzimbo]

A few thoughts.....

I was really surprised how little pace Blessing has on the speed gun actually. His height and the incredible bounce he gets is really deceiving. He was bowling around 133kph but lots of balls below 130 today too, especially towards the end. Ngarava was bowling consistently quicker.

Ngarava doesn't get enough wickets. I'm not sure why. He bowled really well again in his first spell today. Just needs wickets. A bowling average of 51 after 15 matches is not a good look....

Masakadza is nothing special or impressive, but he is so consistent it's unreal. Doesn't really have many variations and doesn't get much turn, but every ball is decent and he literally never bowls a bad one. Builds pressure very well. Vital part of the team considering our lack of specialist spinners in Zim at the moment.

Chakabva deciding to review for the Dockrell wicket was fantastic. No one, including Blessing (the bowler) was too interested in the appeal but Regis spotted the tiny edge.

The team seems to have a good togetherness on the field which is nice. It's rare for Zimbabwe. But including the practice match thats 3 wins on the bounce now - no wonder they look happier. Ervine must be doing a good job as captain. Burl is probably injured still so I'd keep the same XI on Friday. Looks like it will rain all day anyway though.

Now imagine how good we could be with proper coaches and leadership!!!

[Kriterion_BD]

Comfortable win for ZIM. 10 very crucial points secured.

The Irish really fumbled that chase after the hard work.done by McBride and Singh.

266 was always a very good score. Anything above 250 looked very hard to chase on that pitch. We won this match with the bat.

Bowlers really good at the end too though. Fielding very good as well.

The pitch looked pretty flat to me. 266 was definitely chaseable. At the same time lots of childish midfield from Ireland. Should have been a 250 chase. Even the. Ireland botched it with the bat. They were 180 odd for 3 with a RRR of just 7. If the pitch was a minefield ZIM wouldn't have scored 260+ and Ireland wouldn't be 180- 3 deep in the chase. Zimbabwe were persistent and Ireland eventually blinked first. Overall a.good game of cricket.

[secretzimbo]

Comfortable win for ZIM. 10 very crucial points secured.

The Irish really fumbled that chase after the hard work.done by McBride and Singh.

266 was always a very good score. Anything above 250 looked very hard to chase on that pitch. We won this match with the bat.

Bowlers really good at the end too though. Fielding very good as well.

The pitch looked pretty flat to me. 266 was definitely chaseable. At the same time lots of childish midfield from Ireland. Should have been a 250 chase. Even the. Ireland botched it with the bat. They were 180 odd for 3 with a RRR of just 7. If the pitch was a minefield ZIM wouldn't have scored 260+ and Ireland wouldn't be 180- 3 deep in the chase. Zimbabwe were persistent and Ireland eventually blinked first. Overall a.good game of cricket.

I have to strongly disagree. Based on the match I watched today, that was very obviously not a good pitch for batting earlier in the day. Ervine himself said in the post match that they knew anything over 250 would probably be a winning score. We did very very well to get as many runs as we did.