Zim vs Ire: First Zimbabwe hosted T20I under floodlight, Ireland loses last-ball thriller

The opening fixture of the bilateral T20I series between Zimbabwe and Ireland saw a historic moment being scripted Thursday as it was the first game in Zimbabwe played under floodlights. The game went down the wire and the hosts emerged as the winner by one wicket.

Harare: The T20I series between Zimbabwe and Ireland witnessed a historic moment as the series opener became the first game in the shortest format to be hosted by Zimbabwe under floodlights.

Zimbabwe started the series on a winning note by sealing a victory in a game that went down the wire. The hosts chose to bowl after winning the toss and restricted the opposition to 147/8. Andrew Balbirnie was the top scorer with the willow gathering 32 runs during his stay at the crease. None of the other batters played a big knock but a late flourish of unbeaten 26 runs from 11 deliveries from Gareth Delany helped Ireland cross the 140-run mark. Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers by taking three wickets while Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani scalped two wickets each.

Sikandar Raza displayed an all-round show in the game as he also scored a fifty for the chasing side. He played a knock of 65 runs from 42 balls while wickets kept tumbling from the other end. Blessing Muzarabani ensured a positive finish for the side on the last delivery of the fixture and the hosts won the nail-biter by one wicket. Thus, Zimbabwe took a lead of 1-0 in the series by inking a victory in the historic match.

The second match of the series will be played at Harare Sports Club, Harare on Saturday with Zimbabwe aiming to seal the series while Ireland to script a bounce back.

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