ZIM VS IRE - 4th Match, Group B, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022

Zimbabwe have now won eight of their last nine T20Is and as Raza mentioned, they are hungry for more success at the World Cup. Three of the four matches have been won by teams batting first. Something for the captains to take note of? Well, it's time to bring the curtains down on this encounter. Until tomorrow's double-header, it's goodbye...

Craig Ervine: We are ecstatic. To put up a performance like that first game, it shows that we do belong here. It's a pity that it has been a long way since we have played a World Cup. (On Raza) He's been a solid performer for us over the last few months. So excited that he could bring that form here again. Different conditions but that didn't change his form. He played exceptionally today. We needed to get slightly fuller, we thought the Irish bowled a bit too short. Credit to Richie (Richard Ngarava) and Bles (Blessing Muzarabani) for hitting the straps. It was difficult to hit through the covers. (On the dropped catches) In a competition like that, run rate could be a possibility in the end. It was a little bit disappointing not to finish it off. Credit to all the guys for putting up a great performance.

Andrew Balbirnie: I don't think I can look back and regret (the toss). We were pretty happy at the halfway stage. It was a good wicket, we expected it to be a good wicket all day. When you get blown away (22/4), you are always up against it. Bitterly disappointing with how we started with the competition but it's a pretty straightforward shoot-out for us now. (On Little) He's our best bowler at the moment, he's our strike bowler, he has experience of playing franchise cricket. He leads the attack brilliantly. Hopefully he can continue to progress. Zimbabwe bowled really well up top, they took something from the first innings on what needed to be done. There'll be some learnings. It's a quick turnaround, got to get out and fight. It was tricky but we have to counter that as batters, we weren't able to do that tonight.

Sikandar Raza | Player of the Match: The only thing I said to Sean [Williams] (at 37/3) was, 'let's try and take the team as far as we can'. The only thought in my head was to just bat. I didn't allow the emotions to get the better of me. I looked to time the ball well and take it from there. The wicket got harder or I got tired. The second phase of my innings was poor. I was trying to work around myself in the crease so that I can find the back of a length that I am looking forward to try and pull, cut and hook. There is no secret. Try and channel all the emotions of success and failure into the right way and try to compete with the best in the world so that we can represent Zimbabweans and put our flags among the best. It (discomfort) is there, I think the body is breaking up. Hopefully, I do all the right things. I thought I was a bit ill-disciplined when it comes to hydrating. The weather was cold and that's where I lacked. Good wake-up call for me to try and stay fit. We didn't just come here because we are happy to represent Zimbabwe. The goal was get into the Super 12s. To have this win is certainly humbling, exciting and happy. Once the team chat is done, I wouldn't be celebrating this victory. We have a very tough game against the Caribbean boys and that's what I am looking forward to.

23:22 Local Time, 12:22 GMT, 17:52 IST: Clinical performance from Zimbabwe. Inserted to bat, they didn't get off to an auspicious start as they lost three wickets in the powerplay. In arrived Sikandar Raza - Zimbabwe's go-to guy. He not only weathered the early storm but stayed till the end to ensure that his team posted an above-par total on the board with an outstanding 82. With the ball, Ngarava set the tone upfront by castling Stirling and Lorcan Tucker. Blessing Muzarabani joined the party by removing Tector and Balbirnie in his very first over to reduce Ireland to 22/4 in the fourth over. Dockrell and Campher added 42 runs for the fifth wicket but both the batters perished to Zimbabwe's spinners (Raza and Williams respectively). Delany and McCarthy hit a few boundaries and Zimbabwe put down a couple of chances but that only delayed the inevitable and reduced the margin of defeat. Stick around for the presentations...

Ngarava to Joshua Little, no run, off-speed short ball outside off, Little misses the upper-cut. Zimbabwe win by 31 runs!

Ngarava to Joshua Little, no run, slower ball into the pitch, Little swings and misses

Ngarava to Joshua Little, FOUR, 127kph, width served from a short of length, Joshua Little waits for it on the back foot and slaps it through extra cover. Bulleted away to the fence

Ngarava to Joshua Little, no run, 119kph, off-pace short of length ball, Joshua Little shuffles across a long way to scoop and once again doesn't make contact

Ngarava to Joshua Little, no run, 124kph, shorter in length, Joshua Little is early to pull, connects with thin air

Ngarava to Joshua Little, no run, away-slanter around off, Joshua Little tries to glide by arching back, misses

Muzarabani to McCarthy, SIX, slower ball from a short of length, McCarthy spots it, waits for it and swats it away over deep mid-wicket after clearing his front leg. Muscled

Muzarabani to Joshua Little, 1 run, in-angler, wristed to deep mid-wicket

Muzarabani to McCarthy, 1 run, pulled hard, deep square leg runs to his left and stops the ball from reaching the fence

Muzarabani to McCarthy, no run, almost an action replay of the previous delivery. McCarthy looks to hoick over mid-wicket and is beaten on the inside edge. Chakabva doesn't collect it cleanly but the batters don't take a run

Muzarabani to McCarthy, no run, slower ball, McCarthy swings and misses, goes to the keeper on the bounce

Muzarabani to McCarthy, leg byes, FOUR, McCarthy misses the pull against this in-slanter. Hits his body and eludes the keeper to his right before dribbling away to third man

Blessing Muzarabani [3.0-0-15-3] is back into the attack

Ngarava to McCarthy, 1 run, short ball, McCarthy pulls and top-edges. Deep square leg runs forward and to his left before diving forward. Doesn't catch. Another drop!

Ngarava to McCarthy, FOUR, 127kph, Ngarava goes fuller and McCarthy lifts it over the bowler's head after backing away. Good connection to split long-off and long-on