Ireland vs. Zimbabwe: 2nd ODI – Match Review
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Elton-Chigumbura-c55937, captain of Zimbabwe team took his side to a three-wicket win and fated the visiting Ireland side to a series defeat in a fluctuating clash at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, 28th of September. Chigumbura’s unbeaten 32 assured
that a classy 71 struck by Brendan Taylor did not go into vain, as the home side survived a spell of late wickets to slither through the winning line.
Though barely daunting, the 50-over target set by Porterfield’s men could have been more easy for the Zimbabwean batting line-up, being led by Brendan Taylor and Tatinda Taibu, had the younger O'Brien not salvaged the innings from 107 for 6 with his patient
knock of unbeaten 73 that took the score to competitive 238 for 9 at the end of innings. Despite of scrapping hard with the bat in the first half and the ball in the latter, the visitors failed to withstand steady Chigumbura’s men at their home ground.
Once again Chigumbura put the visitors to bat after winning the toss ,and the decision rewarded him on the 9th delivery of the game when Ireland skipper William Porterfield departed for only nine slashing Ed Rainsford to his counterpart Elton
Chigumbura. Porterfield started Ireland innings quite aggressively clearing the boundary twice during his seven minutes stay at the crease, but the belligerence struck back at him very soon sending him back to the pavilion on the third ball of second over.
William Porterfield’s loss was duly brushed off by Paul Stirling looting three fours and a six off Rainsford's next over that went for 18. Ireland seemed to be building a competitive total as far as Paul Stirling and Andre Botha were bludgeoning. But the
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wilson-c98046
and Andrew White. Botha scored 20 runs off 43 deliveries including three fours, while Paul Stirling cruised to his sixth ODI fifty hitting four muscular boundaries and three lofty sixes. Gary Wilson added nine runs to the scorecard, while Andrew White failed
to open his account even and was stumped by Tatinda Taibu off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Prosper-Utseya-c82728.
The side set on its way to a meaningful total in the 18th over with 91 for 2 on the board was soon reeling at 107 for 6 but the visitors found their saviour in the form of Kevin O’Brien who shared useful stands with John Mooney, Trent Johnston
and Albert van der Merwe to drag the side towards a respectable score.
Having picked off singles assiduously, Kevin finished his patient innings at a pugnacious note, looting 29 runs off his last eight balls, including 24 from Rainsford's final over as the visitors were able to amass a respectable 238 for 9 from their 20 overs.
Kevin O’Brien finished with an unbeaten 73 off 102 deliveries, while Trent Johnston scored 30 runs.
Kevin O’Brien complimented his remarkable batting by removing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Williams-c98034 steadied the innings with 42-run stand for the second wicket. Williams run out in the 17th over
revived the hopes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 and Tatinda Taibu responded with a half-century partnership for the next stand. The duo laid the platform for a comfortable chase before Dockrell broke the partnership having Taibu bowled
out in the 33rd over.
Dismissal of Craig Ervine and Charles Coventry in quick succession made the visitors sniff victory once again but skipper Chigumbura held his nerve to lead the side towards the target. Chigumbura and Graeme Cremer sealed the result on the second last ball
of the penultimate over with three wickets intact.
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