Zimbabwean cricket team in Ireland in 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ireland | Zimbabwe | ||
Dates | 27 August – 13 September 2021 | ||
Captains | Andrew Balbirnie | Craig Ervine | |
One Day International series | |||
Results | 3-match series drawn 1–1 | ||
Most runs | William Porterfield (158) | Craig Ervine (121) | |
Most wickets |
Andy McBrine (4) Josh Little (4) | Blessing Muzarabani (6) | |
Player of the series | William Porterfield (Ire) | ||
Twenty20 International series | |||
Results | Ireland won the 5-match series 3–2 | ||
Most runs | Paul Stirling (234) | Craig Ervine (160) | |
Most wickets | Mark Adair (10) | Luke Jongwe (7) | |
Player of the series | Paul Stirling (Ire) |
The Zimbabwe cricket team toured Ireland in August and September 2021 to play three One Day International (ODI) and five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1][2] The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[3][4] Cricket Ireland confirmed the fixtures in February 2021.[5][6] Originally, three T20I matches were scheduled to be played,[7] but two more T20I matches were added in April 2021, after planned matches against Pakistan were cancelled.[8]
However, on 22 July 2021, Cricket Ireland announced that the series would need to be rescheduled due to quarantine requirements needed for the visiting team.[9] The aim was to reschedule the matches for August-September 2021.[10] Zimbabwe Cricket requested government clearance to travel to Ireland, with 19 August 2021 proposed as the date to depart for the tour.[11] On 5 August 2021, Cricket Ireland confirmed the new itinerary for the tour,[12] with the series starting on 27 August 2021.[13]
Zimbabwe won the first T20I match by three runs.[14] However, Ireland went on to win the next three matches,[15] winning the series with a match to spare.[16] Zimbabwe won the fifth T20I match by five runs, with Ireland winning the series 3–2.[17]
Zimbabwe won the first ODI by 38 runs.[18] In the second ODI, Ireland scored 282/8 before the match was washed out, ending in a no result.[19] The day before the third ODI of the series, Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor announced that he would retire from international cricket following the match.[20] Ireland went on to win the match by seven wickets,[21] with the series drawn 1–1.[22]