South African fast bowler Nandre Burger will be missing from the three-match ODI series against Ireland and the Test tour of Bangladesh due to a lumbar stress reaction. In other unfortunate news for the Proteas, Tony de Zorzi has also been ruled out of the second ODI against Ireland and his participation in the upcoming Test tour is uncertain after sustaining a soft tissue injury in his right knee. These absences will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the team as they aim to extend their lead in the ongoing ODI series and perform well in the upcoming Test tour, but replacements are yet to be announced by Cricket South Africa (CSA).
South Africa redeemed themselves after their defeat against Ireland in the T20 International by winning the first One-day International by a margin of 139 runs. Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs were the key players, scoring half-centuries and rescuing the Proteas from a perilous start. Their partnership of 152 runs helped South Africa to a total of 271-9, a score which proved too much for Ireland to handle as they struggled against Lizaad Williams and Lungi Ngidi who took early wickets.
In the first ODI of the series between Ireland Women and England Women, England dominated with a strong performance from player of the match, Kate Cross. Her impressive 6 wickets helped restrict Ireland to a total of just 210 runs. With tension building for the next match, can England continue their winning streak or will Ireland bounce back and prove themselves as a worthy opponent?
Afghanistan's star all-rounder Mohammad Nabi delivered a spectacular performance, taking five wickets and leading Afghanistan to a convincing 117-run win over Ireland in the third ODI. Gurbaz and Zadran also made significant contributions to Afghanistan's total of 310-5. Afghanistan will continue to face Ireland as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
In a rain-affected match in Zimbabwe, Ireland Women dominated over the home team, winning by 10 wickets with a DLS-assisted target of 110 runs. Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter's strong partnership led Ireland to victory, with Kelis Ndlovu unable to break their partnership during her return to the attack.
The ongoing ICC Test Championship, a two-year cycle of matches between nine teams, will see Zimbabwe play against Ireland today, with live coverage available on the blog. New Zealand won the inaugural competition in 2021, while Australia holds the record for most wins in the 50-over World Cup. The shortest format, Twenty20, is also gaining popularity with Australia winning the 2021 tournament.
Zimbabwe will face off against Ireland in the third and final ODI of the series. After a washout in the series opener, Ireland took a 2-0 lead with a comfortable victory in the second ODI. Curtis Campher starred with the bat for Ireland while Josh Little's 6-wicket haul earned him Player of the Match. Zimbabwe will need to win the third ODI to level the series.
Get expert betting tips for the upcoming Zimbabwe vs Ireland T20 match on Sunday, December 17th, 2023 at Harare Sports Club, Harare. Zimbabwe and Ireland are set to face off in a crucial T20 match as Zimbabwe looks to bounce back after a tough loss in the second ODI. Ireland's bowling attack, led by Josh Little, has been strong in the series so far and will look to continue their dominance. But Zimbabwe will be determined to put up a fight and secure a much-needed win on their home ground. Don't miss out on our expert predictions for this exciting match!