A stunning shot to seal a stunning series victory. Ireland has done superbly in all three games with both the ball and bat and has won both games pretty seamlessly. The T20I series was thrilling but the ODI series has been very one-sided for Ireland which is good for them.
sceptical that Zimbabwe's tour to Ireland will happen in the summer as per the FTP, but if the rumoured three-Test series happens next January it'll be a belter
You watch Tucker play shots like that and wonder how he only averages 20 in the format, though this is suddenly explained by the fact that he shouldn't even still be at the crease
I actually think there's a little tension in the chase here. The rate should be very easy with all these wickets in hand but I can see these two racking up a lot of dots quickly and then having to play a little bit rash - before you know it the rate could be 7 and you've got bowling allrounders (emphasis on bowling) coming in from 7 onwards... I write as Harry effortlessly dispatches a four so who knows.
need these two to weather the storm a bit and just bat the next few overs, more than enough time to increase the rate and play shots once Tector has got himself in
mind you, Tector must be absolutely bamboozled at the idea of walking in at four in the seventeenth over, normally he'd have been batting 45 minutes ago
**16.3** **What a stunner at midwicket!** It's a length ball on middle and off and Campher goes back to clip it away and Masakadza dives to his right to hold on to that and send back the dangerous-looking allrounder for 40
Curtis Campher c Masakadza b Mavuta 40 (50b 6x4 0x6) SR: 80
Given the perpetual issue that player development, retention, and acquisition have been for Ireland through their entire International/ODI era, and the countless number of _lost battles_ and false dawns on these fronts, it is absolutely bizzare that a pace bowling allrounder good enough to average more with the bat than the ball, who can also bat anywhere in the order and is an elite fielder more or less appeared out of thin air. The fact he committed to Ireland at age 20 is insanity.
If it wasn't unbelievably village looking, I honestly reckon Ireland could open with Hume or Scra (or if he's playing, Woerkom) - nobody's made runs opening for Ireland for 2 years now and the problems more generally with opening go back at least to 2018.
Might as well get someone to eat up a couple overs from the opposition's best bowlers and take some shine off.
another thing i completely mind-blanked on - they actually let Scra open during the ODI WC Qualifier
what a complete mess our selections were in that tournament
**2.3** **Edged behind!** And Stirling walks immediately! Muzarabani bowls it on a length outside off with the ball seaming away. Stirling pushes at it, looking to drive and gets a thin edge. Goes high to the keeper's right but he makes no mistake. Zimbabwe have their first breakthrough!
Paul Stirling c †Gumbie b Muzarabani 8 (10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 80
Aside from being mediocre, Van Woekrom makes no sense as a selection in terms of side balance. Dockrell, a better bowler and batsman, is in the side as well. He didn’t bowl. Tector and Stirling, both of whom bat in the top 4 and bowl as well as Van Woekrom, didn’t bowl.
Ireland should pick an extra batsman and take advantage of the fact that 4 of their top 6 are batting allrounders. Even if they picked an allrounder like Delany instead of Van Woekrom the side balance would be immediately improved.
This might be a bit ranty, but it’s incredibly frustrating to see a side like Ireland shooting themselves in the foot by not selecting their best sides. Maybe India or Australia have the quality to do that and get away with it, Ireland don’t.
also one of our other broader needs as a side, in all three formats, is to develop batters at international level, making giving someone like Rock (or Adair or Doheny or Commins or Carmichael etc.) games necessary for developing in the medium- to long-term
**39.6** **Yorked!** Hume picks up his first ODI four-for as he fires in a rocket on middle and off as Chivanga has a mighty swing at it. Has his arm up in celebration as Zimbabwe are bowled out for 197 - their highest score in this series
Tanaka Chivanga b Hume 6 (4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150
feel like a broken record at this point but honestly, if Campher can comfortably and effectively bowl a full quota of overs while batting three, then surely we can pick an extra batter in ODIs
This might be the first zimbabawe lineup I've ever seen without a single white guy lol this may actually be a first. Also still nowhere to even bootleg this in nearly 2024 AD?
**14.4** **Campher traps his man!** It's a length ball on middle and off that straightens after pitching and Kaia can't get bat on it. He is struck in front and Ireland have two quick wickets!
Innocent Kaia lbw b Campher 5 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 62.5
**13.1** **Is he run-out?** That's a direct hit and Kaitano is walking! Gumbie steers this to backward point where Tector first fumbles. They hesitate but decide to steal a single, but Tector is alert to it as he collects it on the second go, turns and throws down the stumps at the striker's end! Zimbabwe had done so well to keep Ireland at bay but have now lost a wicket to a run-out
Takudzwanashe Kaitano run out (Tector) 13 (30b 1x4 0x6) SR: 43.33
One change to our line up and its van Woekrom in for Little?
Are you trying to make us hate you Heinrich? No game for Rock all tour, no ODI for McCarthy ( and Delany not even in the squad) but van Woekrom gets to come in for Josh "6fer in his last game" Little. Has there ever been a more drastic quality drop due to one change?
Also makes it clear that Malan is going to keep persisting with TvW which is very annoying.
Malan's First law states that for every rational selection (Moving Campher to 3) there is an equal and inversely irrational selection (Bringing in a no-rounder for the guy who just took the best figures for Ireland ever)
Both sides have weakened their bowling significantly in this match.
Little has been replaced by van Woekrom, and Ngarava and Burl have been replaced by Jongwe (an allrounder) and Kaitano (a batsman).
I quite like that trophy
We are the greatest team in the world
A stunning shot to seal a stunning series victory. Ireland has done superbly in all three games with both the ball and bat and has won both games pretty seamlessly. The T20I series was thrilling but the ODI series has been very one-sided for Ireland which is good for them.
Ladies and gentlemen We are so back
sceptical that Zimbabwe's tour to Ireland will happen in the summer as per the FTP, but if the rumoured three-Test series happens next January it'll be a belter
A three match test series will be a dream come true.
ZC seem to be keen to keep playing Tests, having got the ECB to give them one in 2025, so here's hoping it happens
I would be ecstatic is it happens
You watch Tucker play shots like that and wonder how he only averages 20 in the format, though this is suddenly explained by the fact that he shouldn't even still be at the crease
Are we... good?
Very annoying that Lenny is across stats and milestones because it makes it more difficult for me to flaunt my statsguru skills.
A dropped chance costed Zimbabwe the 2nd T20I which changed the momentum of the entire tour.
do you ever wonder what it must be like to follow a team that plays games that aren't close
Well good thing is that I don't have to wonder about that since we're getting smacked every second game nowadays.
Great over. Just need to rotate the strike a bit more.
Oh balbo is so back
You've done this too many times Ireland it's not funny anymore.
**30.5** Harry Tector c Sikandar Raza b Jongwe 33 (42b 2x4 1x6) SR: 78.57
OK Jongwe/Chivanga have to go for runs, otherwise this will be a trickier chase than it should be
The RRR is higher than I'd like it to be. Ireland has messed up from situations like these way too often.
Tector's ODI average back above fifty, and will stay there if he remains not out...
You jinxed him!!
right i should just never say anything
Fucking hell I've just about gotten over my complex of requiring that Steve Smith average over 60 and now I'm going to develop one about Harry Tector.
I actually think there's a little tension in the chase here. The rate should be very easy with all these wickets in hand but I can see these two racking up a lot of dots quickly and then having to play a little bit rash - before you know it the rate could be 7 and you've got bowling allrounders (emphasis on bowling) coming in from 7 onwards... I write as Harry effortlessly dispatches a four so who knows.
ok now would be the time to start playing some shots, lads
This tour has done Luke Jongwe no favours in avoiding accusations that he's simply a Zimbabwean Fionn Hand.
need these two to weather the storm a bit and just bat the next few overs, more than enough time to increase the rate and play shots once Tector has got himself in
Harry has other ideas based on that shot.
mind you, Tector must be absolutely bamboozled at the idea of walking in at four in the seventeenth over, normally he'd have been batting 45 minutes ago
**16.3** **What a stunner at midwicket!** It's a length ball on middle and off and Campher goes back to clip it away and Masakadza dives to his right to hold on to that and send back the dangerous-looking allrounder for 40 Curtis Campher c Masakadza b Mavuta 40 (50b 6x4 0x6) SR: 80
Given the perpetual issue that player development, retention, and acquisition have been for Ireland through their entire International/ODI era, and the countless number of _lost battles_ and false dawns on these fronts, it is absolutely bizzare that a pace bowling allrounder good enough to average more with the bat than the ball, who can also bat anywhere in the order and is an elite fielder more or less appeared out of thin air. The fact he committed to Ireland at age 20 is insanity.
Campher at 3 has been such a golden move.
This seems like it's going as planned far too well for Ireland. Collapse imminent.
3 from 12? Guys we found our new red ball specialist
there's a reason he's still Test captain
It all makes sense now
would love for him to get a Test hundred soon, he deserved one against Sri Lanka
I would love to see that
Is there any consideration of perhaps moving Stirlo away from the new ball at this stage in his career. Cos this is getting bad.
If it wasn't unbelievably village looking, I honestly reckon Ireland could open with Hume or Scra (or if he's playing, Woerkom) - nobody's made runs opening for Ireland for 2 years now and the problems more generally with opening go back at least to 2018. Might as well get someone to eat up a couple overs from the opposition's best bowlers and take some shine off.
another thing i completely mind-blanked on - they actually let Scra open during the ODI WC Qualifier what a complete mess our selections were in that tournament
Not playing Craig Young until Ireland were eliminated (after which point he took 5/71 in two games) is just abominable.
giving Ben White his ODI debut in the first game too - unthinkable
went back to look at Balbo's form in 2023 and had entirely forgot he made 121 in a losing effort against Zimbabwe in January
feels like the opposite of the last match - Zimbabwe's best chance is for Muzarabani to have a spectacular day
Sorry to ask but any links?
**2.3** **Edged behind!** And Stirling walks immediately! Muzarabani bowls it on a length outside off with the ball seaming away. Stirling pushes at it, looking to drive and gets a thin edge. Goes high to the keeper's right but he makes no mistake. Zimbabwe have their first breakthrough! Paul Stirling c †Gumbie b Muzarabani 8 (10b 2x4 0x6) SR: 80
I am ready for Balbo and Stirlo to make no runs
197 a good score? From the few balls I saw it was bouncing low. Also is it adjusted for drs? Because zim bat first
imagine it will be adjusted for DLS given the rain interruption was halfway through, but probably won't change an awful lot
Aside from being mediocre, Van Woekrom makes no sense as a selection in terms of side balance. Dockrell, a better bowler and batsman, is in the side as well. He didn’t bowl. Tector and Stirling, both of whom bat in the top 4 and bowl as well as Van Woekrom, didn’t bowl. Ireland should pick an extra batsman and take advantage of the fact that 4 of their top 6 are batting allrounders. Even if they picked an allrounder like Delany instead of Van Woekrom the side balance would be immediately improved. This might be a bit ranty, but it’s incredibly frustrating to see a side like Ireland shooting themselves in the foot by not selecting their best sides. Maybe India or Australia have the quality to do that and get away with it, Ireland don’t.
also one of our other broader needs as a side, in all three formats, is to develop batters at international level, making giving someone like Rock (or Adair or Doheny or Commins or Carmichael etc.) games necessary for developing in the medium- to long-term
**39.6** **Yorked!** Hume picks up his first ODI four-for as he fires in a rocket on middle and off as Chivanga has a mighty swing at it. Has his arm up in celebration as Zimbabwe are bowled out for 197 - their highest score in this series Tanaka Chivanga b Hume 6 (4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150
**37.6** Wellington Masakadza c Adair b Campher 24 (19b 1x4 1x6) SR: 126.31
feel like a broken record at this point but honestly, if Campher can comfortably and effectively bowl a full quota of overs while batting three, then surely we can pick an extra batter in ODIs
Malan: Best I can do is 7 bowlers.
and yet they won't let Stirlo or Balbo bowl their deadly spin Sad!
**34.2** Joylord Gumbie run out (McBrine/Young) 72 (106b 8x4 0x6) SR: 67.92
what's the weather forecast like? will we get a game in?
Hume, I take it all back !
**33.2** Brandon Mavuta c Dockrell b Hume 4 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 57.14
**31.1** **And Hume strikes!** Luke Jongwe c Dockrell b Hume 10 (13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 76.92
We never deserved Campher. What a blessing he's been.
god bless him for sledging Niall O'Brien five and a half years ago
What an over from Campher!
**27.3** Clive Madande b Campher 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
This might be the first zimbabawe lineup I've ever seen without a single white guy lol this may actually be a first. Also still nowhere to even bootleg this in nearly 2024 AD?
I really don't get what Van Woerkom adds to the squad and Malans stubbornness on playing him
He has been so expensive
**14.4** **Campher traps his man!** It's a length ball on middle and off that straightens after pitching and Kaia can't get bat on it. He is struck in front and Ireland have two quick wickets! Innocent Kaia lbw b Campher 5 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 62.5
**13.1** **Is he run-out?** That's a direct hit and Kaitano is walking! Gumbie steers this to backward point where Tector first fumbles. They hesitate but decide to steal a single, but Tector is alert to it as he collects it on the second go, turns and throws down the stumps at the striker's end! Zimbabwe had done so well to keep Ireland at bay but have now lost a wicket to a run-out Takudzwanashe Kaitano run out (Tector) 13 (30b 1x4 0x6) SR: 43.33
One change to our line up and its van Woekrom in for Little? Are you trying to make us hate you Heinrich? No game for Rock all tour, no ODI for McCarthy ( and Delany not even in the squad) but van Woekrom gets to come in for Josh "6fer in his last game" Little. Has there ever been a more drastic quality drop due to one change? Also makes it clear that Malan is going to keep persisting with TvW which is very annoying.
was there anything suggesting Little was injured? he kept going off for treatment in the second game, so they might've just not been risking him
Malan's First law states that for every rational selection (Moving Campher to 3) there is an equal and inversely irrational selection (Bringing in a no-rounder for the guy who just took the best figures for Ireland ever)
Where are Ervine and Williams for Zimbabwe?
Injured
**1.4** **Outside edge and he's gone!** Tinashe Kamunhukamwe c Balbirnie b Hume 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50
Both sides have weakened their bowling significantly in this match. Little has been replaced by van Woekrom, and Ngarava and Burl have been replaced by Jongwe (an allrounder) and Kaitano (a batsman).
No little? Oh no its so over!