IRE VS ZIM - 1st T20I, Zimbabwe tour of Ireland, 2021

It will be a difficult pill to swallow for Ireland but they have a chance to put things right in two days. The second T20I is on Sunday. Do join us for that game. That's all for now. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Chakabva | Player of the Match: I realised quite early that it was a two paced surface and just thought to take it (the innings) as deep as I could. It was a little bit trickly. I didn't realise that it (his innings 28-ball 47) was that quick but happy that it helped the team. Credit to the bowlers, defending 117 was not easy but they came out and stuck to their task.

Craig Ervine: After the first half, we had only 118 and I thought we were under par. But the boys came out with fire and energy to defend the total. The surface was tricky, some kept low and some bounced, it was difficult to score. He (Chakabva) had the innings together and his contribution got us over the line. We have got a young bunch of guys and the energy comes from that. All the spinners bowled well, but having a leg spinner, they can go for runs but Ryan bowled well today.

Balbirnie: Very disappointed. Not good enough with the bat. Started tentatively and got into a run a ball situation. We back ourselves to get that sort of total but we never got a grip of it. Have to reassess and go again on Sunday. Bowling and fielding was pretty good. They were economical and took wickets at different stages. We should be chasing 118 no matter the surface. It's a long series, hopefully we can come back on Sunday with different plans.

15:20 Local Time, 14:20 GMT, 19:50 IST: How did Ireland lose this? The answer would be inexperience. Yes, the surface was not ideal for batting but some of the shots were just poor. Stirling got going even as Kevin O Brien struggled at the other end, but wickets at regular intervals did not allow them to gather any momentum and every batter tried to hit his way out. Simi Singh gave them a ray of hope when he struck Chatara for 10 runs off 2 balls in the 17th, but he could not get them over the line as Ngarava defended 6 off the final over to give Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead. Credit to the visitors as they used the slow, two paced surface to their advantage and bowled accordingly. Hang around for the presentations..

Ngarava to Simi Singh, 1 run, Zimbabwe win by 3 runs. Excellent by Ngarava. He has defended 6 off the final over. It is a low full toss and Singh can't do much with that, he flicks it to deep mid-wicket and it is only a single. Ireland at least needed a boundary to force a SuperOver but it was not to be

Benjamin White, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Ngarava to Young, out Young Run Out!! Young perishes for the team's cause. He misses the slash and Singh calls him for the single, Chakabva throws the ball to Ngarava and he under arms it onto the stumps. Young does not even slide his bat in and is caught well short of the crease. 5 off 1 now.. Young run out (Chakabva/Ngarava) 0(1)

Ngarava to Young, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Craig Young, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Ngarava to McCarthy, out Bowled!! Ngarava is cock-a-hoop. He might be bowling Zimbabwe to a superb victory here. McCarthy wanted to go over short fine with the scoop, moved across his stumps but was followed by a very full delivery, he only manages to lap it onto his stumps. Singh has his hands on his head at the other end. McCarthy b Ngarava 4(11)

Ngarava to McCarthy, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Ngarava to Simi Singh, 1 run, premeditated the scoop and that allowed Ngarava to bowl it outside off, he lapped it straight to short fine leg and has to settle with a single. 5 off 3 now..

Ngarava to Simi Singh, no run, two dots. Pressure on Singh now. Shortens the length and angles it across, Singh is not able to deal with the extra bounce and as the ball climbs over his top-edge. 6 off 4

Ngarava to Simi Singh, no run, charges down and gives himself room, Ngarava fires it outside off and well away from the wide guideline, Singh even has a look at the umpire but gets nothing in return. 6 off 5

Last over - 6 runs needed. Jongwe pulled it back nicely after conceding 3 off one legal delivery. But who's going to bowl the final over? Singh and McCarthy have batted sensibly till now. Can they take Ireland over the line? Ngarava given the responsibility. Ervine having a chat with him. Third man and fine leg inside the ring..

Luke Jongwe to Simi Singh, 1 run, slower delivery and Singh chips it to deep mid-wicket, retains strike

Luke Jongwe to McCarthy, 1 run, length delivery and McCarthy heaves it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket, just a single

Luke Jongwe to McCarthy, no run, nails the yorker and McCarthy jams it out to cover

Luke Jongwe to Simi Singh, 1 run, really full delivery outside off, Singh moves across and digs it out towards extra cover