Friday, December 8, 2023

1st T20I: Sikandar Raza stars with bat and ball as Zimbabwe win thriller

NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza showcased a stellar performance both with the bat and ball as Zimbabwe clinched a thrilling victory against Ireland by just one wicket in the opening Twenty20 international of their three-match series.
Ireland set a target of 147-8 in 20 overs, with Raza’s spin bowling claiming three crucial wickets, including that of Andy Balbirniethe former Irish captain who scored 32 runs, featuring a six and six fours.
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Raza, batting at number four, contributed a significant 65 runs off 42 balls, embellished with two sixes and five fours. His dismissal, caught by Ireland’s captain Paul Stirling off Mark Adair‘s bowling, left Zimbabwe needing 11 runs from nine balls with just two wickets in hand.
As the tension mounted, the home team reached 146, losing their ninth batter, Richard Ngarava. However, Blessing Muzarabani, facing his first ball, managed to secure two runs off the final delivery, propelling Zimbabwe to victory at 148-9 in Harare’s Sports Club.

This win marked a memorable night for Zimbabwe cricket, hosting its first match in Harare under newly installed floodlights. It also served as a much-needed turnaround for the team after their surprising third-place finish in a recent T20 World Cup qualifying tournament in Namibia, which led to their elimination.
The series continues with two more T20 internationals scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, followed by a three-match one-day international series starting on December 13, with all matches set to take place in Harare.


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