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Irish Cricket 2025

245678

Comments

  • #32
    Hammer Archer
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hammer Archer


    Finally! 7 runs behind which is actually better than I was expecting 10 minutes ago.



  • #33
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    In the last test between these two sides Ireland ran 5 off one ball, this time they have ran 4 off a ball. I wonder if this has happened before in tests



  • #34
    Hammer Archer
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hammer Archer


    Great start to the second innings compared to the first. 36/0 compared to 31/5 with both openers in double figures.



  • #35
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    83/1 at stumps, got off to a flier and were going at 8 an over early on. This calmed down a lot when Moor got out on 30, no need to be too hasty plenty of time left in this test and can get the runs on board at a steady pace without risking wickets



  • #36
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    Excellent day in the end for Ireland.

    If they can get through the initial burst in the morning from Zimbabwe, then hopefully they can build a good lead and that middle order can face an older ball with an bowling attack that may then begin to tire. Imperative that they keep wickets in hand.



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  • #37
    Strumms
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,273 ✭✭✭✭Strumms


    hopefully we can get a lead of 250 plus.

    Doing a bit of research about that ground and it seems that it’s notoriously difficult to score runs there in the 4th innings of a test. Lots of sub 200 scores in 4th innings. Zimbabwe haven’t been overly successful there in recent times. Something to consider and be positive about.



  • #38
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Only 1 wicket gone and a 50 on the board for balbirnie. Score moved to 147/2. Not a bad start at all



  • #39
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    261/7 at tea. A lot of batters getting a start but not capitalising



  • #40
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123148160#Comment_123148160

    Yep, that seems to be the theme of the day. The run rate has been decent and everyone has got into double figures which suggests that it is a very good pitch. Just a good 50 partnership in the lower order could take the game away from Zimbabwe. As it is, you just feel that it will go down to the wire again like last year.



  • #41
    Hammer Archer
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hammer Archer


    Tucker starting to motor. Need to keep him on strike to get a lead of over 300 and put pressure on.



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  • #42
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    298 all out in the end. Zim need 292 to win. Pity that given the situation at lunch we couldn't bat out the day. Still Ireland definitely favs from this point



  • #43
    fergiesfav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 167 ✭✭fergiesfav


    Every batsman got a start, the top score was still only 66. You can see this is a batting order with no idea how to play first class innings.



  • #44
    Hammer Archer
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hammer Archer


    Bit disappointed with that. Better innings as a whole but no big stands to push the lead to well over 300 (which it really should have been). Still likely favourites but still in the balance.



  • #45
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    Big early breakthough from McCarthy to get rid of one of Curran brothers again.

    Big final half-hour now where Ireland can make some inroads here.



  • #46
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    And Adair gets one too. Wonderful start



  • #47
    Hammer Archer
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hammer Archer


    Two down. Would be great to get Welch out before the end of the day.

    Looking at the forecast, seems like there might be the possibility of rain over the next couple of days so that may come into play.



  • #48
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Welch out!



  • #49
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    Humphreys gets the big wicket of Welch!

    Turned into a fantastic final session.



  • #50
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Zim 38/3 at stumps. Ireland in a great spot now



  • #51
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    38/3 at the end of the day. 254 runs for Zimbabwe to win.

    Very positive little session for Ireland that. Need to get stuck into that middle order quickly in the morning. The fear you would have is like that first innings where they struggled to finish off Zimbabwe and that that could be repeated. Pitch appears to be still good according to reading the commentary, so plenty of work still to be done.



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  • #52
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Start is delayed, wet outfield



  • #53
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Only the nightwatchman gone in terms of wickets. Zim on 71/4 and another rain delay



  • #54
    No_Hope_Club
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 150 ✭✭No_Hope_Club


    129 for 5 now



  • #55
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Zim finished on183/7. Hopefully we get the weather tomorrow to close out the game.



  • #56
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    2 wickets for Humphreys this morning including the vital one of madherve for 84. 6 wickets in this innings for Humphreys. Zim 218/9 needing another 74



  • #57
    KevIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,528 ✭✭✭✭KevIRL


    Ireland win by 63 runs. A brilliant performance all round with the exception of the first hour or so of day 1. Very controlled and fantastic to get a third test win on the bounce



  • #58
    Hammer Archer
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hammer Archer


    Great result and, thankfully, no nervous moments towards the end. Definitely didn't see it coming after losing 5 in the first hour. Excellent bowling by Humphreys.

    Third test win in a row meaning we now have the third longest active test win streak :D



  • #59
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    Absolutely brilliant. These players have so many things stacked against them, they play a sport that RTE don't even mention. They don't play first class cricket and didn't have any warm-up games and to be able to turn it around after a terrible first session is a fantastic achievement.

    That second innings was good hard batting. Building the runs and tiring Zimbabwe out which got it's results when they had them 3 down at the close of that day. Just a really good all-round team performance. Great to see the improvement in Humphreys as well and guys like him just need more games and more opportunities.

    Test cricket is really, really hard and a couple of years ago it looked like this was all a waste of time for Ireland as the gap was too big to the other nations but I think they have the scheduling right at the moment. Not being part of the Test World Championship means one-off test matches here and there against the likes of Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. I think they could give the West Indies, Bangladesh and perhaps Pakistan a good game now, particularly at home. It's a pity they couldn't squeeze in a home test match against West Indies as they are touring this summer for 3 T20s and 3 ODI's, particularly when there isn't a huge need to play ODI cricket at the moment.



  • #60
    fergiesfav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 167 ✭✭fergiesfav


    Brilliant gutsy win. These players are performing above themselves in tests in spite of CIs lack of interest and ambition in that code.

    Super from Humphreys considering that was his 7th 1st class game. If CI backed these players and first class cricket in general, we'd have a competitive test side. OK not against the big 3/4, but definitely against the like of West Indies, Bangladesh.

    Such a pity it'll be over 12 months until the next test. 2/3 of that team could well be retired by the time ireland next play a home test match.



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  • #61
    VillaMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭VillaMad


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123155863#Comment_123155863

    They are looking to play Afghanistan in a test match at home in July, but it hasn't been confirmed as of yet.

    4 of the 11 today are 34, but you would hope that they each still have a few years left in the tank. Hopefully 1 or 2 can perhaps break into the squad over the next year or so as a natural evolution of the side.



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