.jpg?im=Resize,height=373 "T20 World Cup 2022: Ireland's report card")
Heinrich Malan opines on McBrine's exclusion from T20 WC squad
Bizarre Incident denies Blair Tickner from taking Simi Singh's wicket
Paul Stirling named Ireland's men's cricketer of the decade
World T20 2021: Ireland begin quest in view of stamping authority
The Ireland side has been one of the two sides apart from Afghanistan in world cricket who has been attaining success in the past few years. They were granted the Test status in 2017, are considered to be a decent unit as far as T20 format is concerned and comprise of some brilliant players in the line up. They will now be battling it out in the World T20 2021 and will play the first match against Netherlands in Abu Dhabi on Monday (October 18, 2021). The Irish team is one of the eight teams who are playing the preliminary round of the tournament. The teams have been divided into two groups of four and the top two sides from each group will go into the Super 12s stage. Apart from the Netherlands, their group has Sri Lanka and Namibia as well. But moving further, let’s just take a look at Ireland’s recent run in the T20I format. They suffered series defeats against UAE and South Africa respectively earlier this year. While Ireland played UAE away from home, their locked horns with the Proteas on the home soil. But they did taste some success after beating Zimbabwe in home fixtures. While the form was a bit of concern for them coming into the World T20, the Ireland team would have taken a sigh of relief after clinching victories in the warm-up matches against Bangladesh and PNG. More than the wins, it was about the margins by which they defeated the opponents. Ireland thumped PNG by 8 wickets after chasing down a target of 97 with 20 balls to spare and then grabbed a comprehensive 33-run win against Bangladesh after defending a target of 178 quite successfully. They had put up an all round show during the practice games and would look to continue the form when the side takes the centre stage. Team News Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie sparked an injury concern after he suffered a toe injury during a game against UAE on October 10. Later, the X-ray had ruled out the possibility of any fracture but the team management had begun the intensive training. He in fact scored an unbeaten 42 against PNG on October 12 in the warm-up match. Experienced campaigners The Ireland contingent has some prominent names in the line up who have played a lot of cricket. Paul Stirling, George Dockrell, Andrew Balbirnie, and Kevin O’Brien are some of the names on whom the team would bank upon. Ireland have been known for causing some major upsets in big tournaments. They defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2007 ODI World Cup, no one can really forget that knock from Kevin that he unleashed against England in the 2011 ODI World Cup and stole away a win from the jaws of defeat from his side. Later, in the 2015 edition of 50-over World Cup, they achieved a win against West Indies. While they have left a mark in ODI World Cups, Ireland are still looking to stamp authority in World T20. In fact, Kevin O’Brien admitted that the side needs to win games in the World T20. “We've had a lot more success and our big victories have been in the 50-over tournament," he had said. "But you look back at when we beat Bangladesh in 2009 at Trent Bridge you have still had victories at T20, but lately the ones that stand out are the results we have been on the wrong side of,” he added. So with a lot of experience under their belt and a hunger to prove themselves in World T20s, Ireland would be looking to take the field. Full Squad: Andrew Balbirnie (captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O’Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young. Reserve players: Shane Getkate, Graham Kennedy, Barry McCarthy
Zimbabwe pull a rabbit out of their hat as Ngarava defends six in last over to beat Ireland
Zimbabwe defended their second-lowest T20I total ever as they stopped Ireland from chasing down 117, eventually winning the match by 03 runs at Castle Avenue, Clontarf to lead the five-match series 1-0. Prior to the 117 today, they had defended 110 against West Indies in 2010. In today’s match, the bowlers turned out to be the real hero, especially Richard Ngarava who bowled a magical 20th over, giving away only two runs when six were required for a win and five for a tie. He not only conceded two runs but also kept the dangerman, Simi Singh, off the strike. Simi Singh, before that over had hit 26 off just 18 balls. In the last over, Singh could only hit two of the four deliveries that he faced, including a single off the last ball when at least four was required to tie the game. The end might not have been ideal for Ireland, but the start to chase was surely one. With Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien getting in the groove, it seemed like an easy chase for the Irish as they raced away to 27 without a loss. However, once Stirling was removed by Jongwe, things started to change as soon skipper Andrew Balbirnie was removed as well. Getting into a rhythm, the Zimbabwe spin bowlers began exploiting the huge size of the ground with their flight and getting the Irish players caught in the deep and pressure mounting ever so more. Within the space of 44 balls and 44 runs, the Men in Green lost six key wickets and the Chevrons were all over them. Wellington Masakadza and Ryan Burl took five of those six wickets. It then took a brilliant inning from Simi Singh to get the team back in the mix and almost set them as favourites to win at the end of the 18th over with only 12 runs required from the last two. However, first Luke Jongwe and then Ngrava made sure that the firm favourites were shocked, Jonge gave only six runs in the 19th over to keep Zimbabwe in the game and then Ngarava took them home. Earlier in the morning, after losing the toss and being invited to bat first, Zimbabwe, who were playing without their superstars such as Sean Williams, Brendan Taylor and Sikandar Raza managed to get to 117 courtesy of Regis Chakabva’s 47 and Masakadza’s unbeaten 19 0ff 15 balls.
IRE vs SA | 3rd T20I: South Africa complete clean sweep win
South Africa completed a clean sweep win against Ireland in the three-match T20I series after winning the final clash by 49 runs in Belfast. Chasing a stiff total of 190, Ireland were restricted to 140/9 in 20 overs. The hosts didn’t have a great start after they lost Kevin O'Brien early in the chase and never looked steady in the chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals to get reduced to 102/8. Captain Andrew Balbirnie top-scored with 27 off 22. For the Proteas, it was George Linde, Lizaad Williams and Wiaan Mulder who scalped a couple of wickets apiece. Earlier, the visitors rode on an emphatic 127-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and Hendricks and then a late surge from David Miller to post 189/2 in 20 overs. While Bavuma struck 72 off 51, Hendricks all notched up 69 off 48 and Miller chipped in with an unbeaten 17-ball 36. Simi Singh and Barry McCarthy were the only bowlers among the wickets for Ireland. Miller, who scored some valuable runs during the course, talked about his knock after the match. “It's nice to contribute after the one-dayers. I was struggling a little bit in the West Indies, it was nice to come out and get some runs on the board and hit it sweet again. Series win as well, a little bonus there,” he said. Captain Bavuma talked about the side’s preparations for the upcoming World T20 and his captaincy. “World Cup is still a couple of months away, we still have time to iron out all the little things, we are looking forward to that event. It's (captaincy) been tough. Personally from my point of view, you always want to lead with the bat as the leader. Being short there makes it tough,” he said.
IRE vs SA: Simi Singh's record maiden hundred in vain as South Africa level series with 70 run win
Simi Singh struck a hundred, his maiden hundred in international cricket and it became the highest score by number eight batsman in the history of ODI cricket. In fact, the Ireland batsman became the first-ever player to score a hundred batting at number eight. However, that could not stop South Africa from registering an emphatic 70 run win in the third ODI to level the three-match series 1-1 after the first game was washed out by rain. Ireland didn’t have an ideal start to their chase and to be honest, Singh and his partner Curtis Campher were the saving grace of a sorry looking scorecard. The hosts lost the top six wickets at the score of 92 with last match heroes skipper Andrew Balbarnie, Gorge Dockrell and Harry Tector back in the hut. Singh then joined Capmher and the two added 104 for the seventh wicket in just 107 balls. Post the Capmher wicket, the 34-year-old Punjab born started teeing off. In fact, he scored his last 46 runs off just 30 balls. He added 47 for the last wicket with Craig Young, but in the end, it was too much to ask for from the tailenders as Anrich Nortrje removed Young to bowl Ireland out for 276. For the Proteas, Andile Phehlukwayo and Tabraiz Shamsi picked up three wickets each. Earlier in the day, having won the toss South Africa decided to bat first and made good use of the opportunity as both openers Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan hit centuries and added 225 for the first wicket. Malan remained unbeaten at his career-best 177 to guide the Proteas to 346 in their 50 overs. Malan was adjudged Man of the Match for his efforts. Having drawn the ODI series, the two sides would now take on each other in the T20Is with the first of the three games being played at the same venue of The Village, Dublin, as the three ODIs.