The Zimbabwe cricket team toured Ireland in August and September 2021 to play three One Day International (ODI) and five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1][2] The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[3][4] Cricket Ireland confirmed the fixtures in February 2021.[5][6] Originally, three T20I matches were scheduled to be played,[7] but two more T20I matches were added in April 2021, after planned matches against Pakistan were cancelled.[8]
| Zimbabwean cricket team in Ireland in 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| Ireland | Zimbabwe | ||
| Dates | 27 August – 13 September 2021 | ||
| Captains | Andrew Balbirnie | Craig Ervine | |
| One Day International series | |||
| Results | 3-match series drawn 1–1 | ||
| Most runs | William Porterfield (158) | Craig Ervine (121) | |
| Most wickets |
Andy McBrine (4) Josh Little (4) | Blessing Muzarabani (6) | |
| Player of the series | William Porterfield (Ire) | ||
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | Ireland won the 5-match series 3–2 | ||
| Most runs | Paul Stirling (234) | Craig Ervine (160) | |
| Most wickets | Mark Adair (10) | Luke Jongwe (7) | |
| Player of the series | Paul Stirling (Ire) | ||
However, on 22 July 2021, Cricket Ireland announced that the series would need to be rescheduled due to quarantine requirements needed for the visiting team.[9] The aim was to reschedule the matches for August-September 2021.[10] Zimbabwe Cricket requested government clearance to travel to Ireland, with 19 August 2021 proposed as the date to depart for the tour.[11] On 5 August 2021, Cricket Ireland confirmed the new itinerary for the tour,[12] with the series starting on 27 August 2021.[13]
Zimbabwe won the first T20I match by three runs.[14] However, Ireland went on to win the next three matches,[15] winning the series with a match to spare.[16] Zimbabwe won the fifth T20I match by five runs, with Ireland winning the series 3–2.[17]
Zimbabwe won the first ODI by 38 runs.[18] In the second ODI, Ireland scored 282/8 before the match was washed out, ending in a no result.[19] The day before the third ODI of the series, Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor announced that he would retire from international cricket following the match.[20] Ireland went on to win the match by seven wickets,[21] with the series drawn 1–1.[22]
Squads
edit Ireland
|
 Zimbabwe
| |
|---|---|---|
| ODIs[23] | T20Is[24] | ODIs and T20Is[25] |
Zimbabwe did not name individual squads for the ODI and T20I matches, opting instead to name a combined squad of 18 players for the tour.[26] Curtis Campher was ruled out of Ireland's ODI squad after suffering an injury in the first T20I match.[27] Shane Getkate was named as Campher's replacement for Ireland's ODI matches.[28]
Tour match
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|
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
- The match was reduced to 40 overs per side due to a wet outfield.
T20I series
edit1st T20I
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|
||
- Ireland won the toss and elected to field.
- Curtis Campher and Neil Rock (Ire) both made their T20I debuts.
- Craig Ervine captained Zimbabwe for the first time in T20Is.[29]
- Paul Stirling played in his 300th match for Ireland.[30]
2nd T20I
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
3rd T20I
editv
|
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.
- William McClintock (Ire) made his T20I debut.
- Paul Stirling (Ire) scored his first century in T20Is.[31]
4th T20I
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|
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.
5th T20I
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|
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.
ODI series
edit1st ODI
editv
|
||
- Ireland won the toss and elected to field.
- World Cup Super League points: Zimbabwe 10, Ireland 0.
2nd ODI
editv
|
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.
- Rain prevented any further play.
- Milton Shumba (Zim) made his ODI debut.
- World Cup Super League points: Ireland 5, Zimbabwe 5.
3rd ODI
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|
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- Ireland won the toss and elected to field.
- Ireland were set a revised target of 118 runs from 32 overs due to rain.
- World Cup Super League points: Ireland 10, Zimbabwe 0.
Brendan Taylor played his last international match. World Cup Super League points: Ireland 10, Zimbabwe 0.
References
edit- ^ "Ireland must enter bubble to start busy year in UAE". Belfast Telegraph. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Ireland could host Pakistan T20Is in England but Test opportunities remain limited". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Home international fixtures announced for Ireland Men's cricket team". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Ireland cricket: Home summer series against South Africa and Zimbabwe confirmed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Ireland schedule extra matches against Zimbabwe". Cricket Europe. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Graham Ford speaks on eve of Inter-Pros, as two new men's T20Is and Wolves series venue confirmed". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Statement on Zimbabwe Men's tour". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Ireland v Zimbabwe: Series to be rescheduled over Covid-19 quarantine requirements". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Zimbabwe's tour of Ireland postponed; ZC seeks government clearance for travel". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Graham Ford about Ireland Men's prospects, as new dates released for rescheduled Zimbabwe series". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Zimbabwe's rescheduled tour of Ireland to begin on August 27". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Ireland lose to Zimbabwe by three runs in Twenty20 opener at Clontarf". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Kevin O'Brien, Paul Stirling, Mark Adair secure series victory for Ireland". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Ireland v Zimbabwe: Hosts claim T20 series victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Luke Jongwe and Donald Tiripano three-fors seal Zimbabwe win in low-scoring final match". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Zimbabwe make light work of Irish bowlers to win first ODI". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Rain forces abandonment of second Ireland-Zimbabwe ODI". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Brendan Taylor to retire from international cricket". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Ireland v Zimbabwe: Hosts win final ODI to draw series as Brendan Taylor bows out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Josh Little, spinners help Ireland level series as Brendan Taylor has forgettable farewell". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Squads announced for the men's series against Zimbabwe". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Curtis Campher called up for Zimbabwe T20Is". CricBuzz. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Craig Ervine named Zimbabwe captain for Ireland, Scotland tours". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Taylor, Ervine, Williams return for Ireland, Scotland tour". CricBuzz. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Campher blow for Ireland". Cricket Europe. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Shane Getkate to replace Curtis Campher in Ireland's World Cup Super League squad". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Ireland host Zimbabwe with T20 World Cup preparation in mind". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Stirling reaches 300 caps". Cricket Europe. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Paul Stirling's maiden T20I hundred lifts Ireland to thumping win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 September 2021.