Wicketkeeper-batsman Clive Madande vindicated his inclusion in the men's national cricket team—starring in Zimbabwe's first ODI victory over Ireland at Harare Sports Club as he hit the boundary with one ball left, winning the match for the Zimbabwe Chevrons by three wickets. Victor Nyauchi's bowling saw him having figures of 2-65.
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| Clive Madande. PIC/ZimCricket on Twitter |
ASHLEY DUBE
Zimbabwe clinched a three-wicket victory via the Duckworth-Lewish Method (DLS method) in a nail-biting, rain interrupted first One Day International at Harare Sports Club. With four runs required from the last ball, wicketkeeper-batsman Clive Madande obliged smashing Greame Hume for four sending the relatively small crowd present into delirium.
Chasing 288 for victory, the Chevrons had an awful start as out of form opener Wessly Madhevere was caught at point for 2 off the bowling of Mark Adair. Fellow opener Innocent Kaia labored for his 19 before holing out in the deep as he attempted to accelerate his scoring rate.
This brought debutant Gary Ballance to the crease and stitched a partnership with his captain Craig Ervine before. Ervine fell to an astonishing catch by Harry Tector off his own bowling. Gary Balance fell to Josh Little as he misjudged a short one and was caught by Hume. Zimbabwe were in all sorts of trouble at 99-4.
This brought Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl to the crease. The rain was looming large over Harare Sports Club the pair adopted an aggressive approach so as to beat the DLS par score. Rain eventually stopped play after 33.2 overs with their partnership standing on 76.
On return the Chevrons were given a revised target of 214 and required 39 runs from 22 balls. They had the worst possible start as Raza was caught at cow-corner by Curtis Campher off the bowling of Mark Adair. Campher was soon back in action as he played a crucial role in running out Burl for 59 after some few nasty blows from the left hander.
The pendulum swung back in Zimbabwe's favor when Brad Evans hit his first ball for six. The hope he had brought soon evaporated as he trapped leg before wicket the very next ball. Zimbabwe required 5 runs from 2 balls.
Wellington Masakadza got the all-important single before Clive Madande finished it off with aplomb as the Chevrons took a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
Earlier, Ireland had set Zimbabwe 289 to win after they were put in to bat first. It proved a great decision for the Chevrons as their pacers bowled brilliantly earlier on. They were rewarded with Victor Nyauchi bowling out opener Stephen Doheny with an impressive in-swinger which sent his leg stump cartwheeling. Richard Ngarava quickly got on the act trapping danger man Paul Stirling leg before for 13.
Tector-Balbirne show
With Ireland in all sorts of trouble on 25-2, skipper Andy Balbirne and Tector combined to a monstrous 212 run partnership wrestling control from the Chevrons as put the Irish in the driving seat.
Balbirne made his 8th ODI hundred before retiring hurt after top-edging a Brad Evans full toss straight to his helmet grill.
Balbirne's innings was not smooth sailing as he lived a charmed life earlier on his innings. He was dropped twice; once by Sikandar Raza at first slip off the bowling of Evans, before he was dropped again by Nyauchi off his own bowling.
His innings was chanceless from there on along with Hector Tector—they exercised patience in the middle overs, rotating the strike excellently before executing their power game in the third power play.
Following Balbirne's departure, Tector fully took over eventually reaching his third ODI hundred in the final over the match off 108 balls. This is his third hundred and his first against Zimbabwe; and the young rising star is five runs away from 1000 One Day International runs.
Victor Nyauchi was the pick of Zimbabwe's bowling attack with 2-65. Richard Ngarava and Sikandar Raza took one apiece.
Records
· The 212 run stand between is the highest partnership stand for any wicket between Zimbabwe and Ireland in One Day Internationals.
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