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IRE vs ZIM | Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani lead Zimbabwe to victory in first ODI

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Zimbabwe registered only their second win in the ICC World Cup Super League 2020-22 when they defeated Ireland by 38 runs in the first match of the three-match series at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. 

All-rounder Sikandar Raza, who got into the team for the first time after missing the entire five-match T20I series proved to be a good asset with the bat while Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor, the other two senior members of the team also did well to merit their inclusion.

Batting first, Zimbabwe put up a competitive total of 266-7 courtesy of a fighting inning by skipper Craig Ervine (64 off 96) and flourishing innings by Skandar Raza (59* off 44) and Brendan Taylor (49 off 45). Late order hitting by Luke Jongwe played an important role as well. For Ireland, each of the six bowlers tried, picked a wicket each while Jongwe was run out. 

In its attempt to chase down the total, the Irish had a decent enough start with the openers putting up a 64 run stand for the first wicket. While Stirling got out eventually unable to score quickly which is his ideal way to play, skipper Balbirnie followed him to the dressing room soon as well. 

Harry Tector then combined with William Porterfield and the two added 71 runs for the third wicket as Porterfield reached his 19th ODI fifty. But once Porterfield was dismissed by Jongwe, it became very difficult for Ireland to get going as spinners Williams, Wesley Madhevere, Raza and Wellington Masakadza. 

However, it was Blessing Muzarabani who took advantage of that pressure created by spinners as he ran through the Irish middle order picking up four wickets in his 9.4 overs. In the end, even after Porterfoeld’s and Tector’s fifties, Ireland folded out for 228 and thus lost the game by 45 runs. 

Raza was adjudged Man of the Match for his batting. The two teams will now clash in the second ODI on September 10 at the same venue.

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5th Test Preview: Battle-hardened India chase legacy-defining series win over haphazard England

When the coin went up in the air for the first time at Trent Bridge early last month, it was the start of a “blockbuster” series as Indian captain Virat Kohli had described then. Now, after a period of over one month and four riveting Test matches, each and every phase of play has thrown fierce battles and mouthwatering competition between the players across both sides to justify the hype and expectations. While India made an impressive start in the first Test, Joe Root brought his best to the fore and thwarted an early advantage to the tourists. To overcome the Joe Root-led England batting, Virat Kohli’s highly-spirited side sucked the life out of the hosts at Lord’s to go 1-0 up in the series. There were obituaries written for the hosts in the aftermath of Lord’s loss and people expected Kohli-led India’s ship to sail comfortably through the Englihs summer. 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India’s last win showcased the difference between the sides and established their supremacy in neutral conditions. It highlighted that the gulf between the sides can be narrowed only by bowling conditions heavily stacked against batsmen and in favour of swing and seam bowling. On what considered as “good” or “flat” pitches, England have always been found wanting and it was again on display at the Oval as they could not modify their game as per changing playing conditions while India had plans ready for multiple propositions. Kohli had issued a bullish statement in the wake of the horror show at Headingley that his team love being “written off” and that they have shown their strong mind and class to come back from such situations before. He and his team have lived up that promise by returning the favour of a humiliating loss at Headingley to the hosts and it’s the turn of England to come back with their riposte at Old Trafford. 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