Review: Adair, Campher, and Tector help Ireland even the series in a Harare thriller in ZIM vs. IRE, 2nd T20I

George Dockrell (16) secured the victory with a boundary just seconds after he had been dropped in the field, although Mark Adair (19) was caught out on the boundary. the Harare Sports Club, in front of a noisy home crowd, the Ireland Men leveled the three-match T20 International series with a classic all-around team effort that saw them defeat Zimbabwe by four wickets in another thrilling last over. The match was decided in the 20th over of the second inning, much like in the series opener on Thursday. This time, Ireland needed seven runs off the final six balls.

While Adair, Craig Young, Gareth Delany, and Curtis Campher took wickets with the ball, six of Ireland’s batsmen scored in double figures, with Harry Tector topping the list with 48.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared in advance of the match that Sean Williams would take over as captain of Zimbabwe after captain Sikandar Raza was banned for the next two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for collecting four demerit points, two of which came from the series’ first match after an altercation with Josh Little and Campher. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, an all-arounder, replaced Raza.

Barry McCarthy was replaced by Theo van Woerkom, who was playing in his first T20 international match, in the Ireland lineup.

Adair struck with only his second ball, trapping Marumani leg before wicket, and Paul Stirling, who had won the toss and sent Zimbabwe into bat, was rewarded instantly. With the final delivery of the third over, Adair struck once more, removing Wessly Madhevere (9) with a well-aimed bouncer, which Andrew Balbirnie at midwicket managed to collect.

Before Campher took off interim captain Williams (17), runs started to come in. Seven overs later, the home team was 65-3.

With Zimbabwe trailing 77-4 after a few overs, Delany pulled his middle stump, but Tinashe Kamunhukamwe made the most of his chance to be back in the starting lineup, scoring a cool 39.

A sixth-wicket partnership of 86* between left-hander Ryan Burl (38*) and right-hander Clive Madande (44*) helped Zimbabwe record a total of 165-5 from their 20 overs. However, some tight bowling in the middle overs from Campher, Young, and Little slowed the run pace.

Ireland’s opening pair, Stirling (10) and Balbirnie (8), fell easily to Madande’s bowling, with Stirling having been bowled by right-armer Muzarabani and Balbirnie being caught behind. Later, as Lorcan Tucker (12) attempted to stretch for a shorter pitch and chip it directly to Muzarabani, Gwandu caught him. However, Tector stuck with it, and he and Campher kept the scoreboard moving as they gradually formed a partnership, reaching 84-3 at the halfway point of the innings.

Ireland had surpassed the hosts’ total at the same point in their innings after 14 overs. But then spinner Brian Bennett entered the field, and when Campher (37) attempted a long-on blast, Bennett tenderly grabbed the ball, sending it into Luke Jongwe’s appreciative hands. His partnership of 66 runs with Tector laid the groundwork for an Irish triumph.

But these are never easy games to win, and Zimbabwe recovered once again. With a magnificent delivery, Ngarava removed Tector’s middle stump, and Zimbabwe’s momentum was reversed. Adair joined Dockrell in the middle, with Ireland needing 37 runs from the last four overs. With two balls remaining, Dockrell provided the finishing stroke as they combined for thirty runs, putting Ireland in a position to win.

MATCH SUMMARY

Second T20 International between Zimbabwe and Ireland, December 9, 2023, at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe 165-5 (20 overs; C Madande 44*, T. Kamunhukamwe 39; M Adair 2-28)

Ireland 166-6 (19.4 overs; H Tector 48, C Campher 37; 2-33 R Ngarava)  

Ireland won by 4 wickets