http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045: 1st ODI review
Ed Rainsford, with his 4-wicket haul, squeaked Zimbabwe home with a last-ball, two-wicket victory over Ireland in the first One Day International at Harare Sports Club on Sunday, 26th September. Chasing a competitive yet gettable 50-overs target
of 201, the hosts were six runs behind the winning line with one over and two wickets in hand. Frantic running from Graeme Cremer and Ed Rainsford helped the home side draw level before Rainsford pulled the final ball of the game off Kevin O’Brien over the
long leg for a huge six to steal victory.
Earlier Ed Rainsford forged ahead with the ball picking up four wickets, including three top-order batsmen as well, for 23 runs from nine overs as the visitors were rolled over in the 48th over. Ed Rainsford’s four-wicket haul followed by his
match winning 3-ball 9 earned him man of the match award.
The visitors were no doubt 30-40 runs short of the competitive total but they rallied with the ball in the latter half and the home line-up was on the defensive form after the prolific opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hamilton-Masakadza-c61354 was nipped out by Kevin O’Brien on the first
ball of the game. After Masakadza’s dismissal, wicketkeeper batsman Tatinda Taibu spearheaded the run chase of Zimbabwe sharing useful stands with Brendan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 and Craig Ervine. The time Taibu departed in the 37th over for 62 slashing Trent Johnston
to Paul Stirling, William Porterfield and his men started sniffing a victory.
Charles Coventry’s run out in the 43rd over with 48 still needed off 43 balls further dimmed Zimbabwe’s prospects of victory. But the skipper of Zimbabwe side http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Elton-Chigumbura-c55937, the last recognised batsman at the crease, had some other plans in
his mind. Chigumbura kick-started the recovery of Zimbabwe with a calm knock under pressure. The skipper blazed away with the bat scoring belligerent 41 off just 32 balls with the help of four muscular boundaries and a six.
In the meanwhile, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Dockrell-c59135 to Andrew White. Utseya earned the hosts nine runs from as many deliveries but his loss was duly brushed off by the skipper with
a straight six in the 48th over – the first six of Zimbabwe’s innings.
The next over, Ireland were back on the top as fluent skipper Elton Chigumbura departed mistiming a full-toss delivery off Trent Johnston straight into the hands of John Mooney at long on. After Chigumbura’s dismissal Ed Rainsford joined Graeme Cremer at
the crease with only Chris Mpofu still in reserve.
Zimbabwe was six runs behind the target with only six balls and two wickets in hand. Superb running from Graeme Cremer and Ed Rainsford between the wickets helped the hosts draw level on the penultimate ball, after Rainsford survived a close run out. The
1 from 1 on the board reminded the fans of both sides the tied encounter at the 2007 World Cup, but history did not repeat itself as Rainsford pulled his ever first international six over the long leg off Kevin O’Brien to steal 2-wicket win in the first fixture
of the three-match one-day series.
Earlier the Irish men, after being put into bat, were dismissed for 200 with 15 balls to spare in their innings and Rainsford had played a key role in the early dismissal and below par total of the visitors. He removed skipper William Porterfield and Niall
O'Brien on consecutive deliveries of his first over putting up the pressure on the opposition line-up.
Top four batsmen of Ireland were sent back inside 10 overs with not many on the board but 115 runs stand between Andrew White and Gary http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wilson-c98046 for the fifth wicket partnership averted the humiliation of meagre total and the side was able to put up a respectable
total of 200. Rainsford finished with his career-best 4 for 23 from 9 overs and was deservedly declared as Man of the Match.
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