Cricket

Ireland's Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast starred in a thrilling seven-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Dublin, leveling the two-match series 1-1.Lewis, who had scored a century in the first T20I, continued her impressive form with a smashing 119 off 75 balls. She found an able ally in Prendergast, who contributed 38 off 31 balls. The duo shared a 119-run partnership for the second wicket, laying the foundation for Ireland's competitive total of 173 for 3.Lewis reached her fifty off 40 balls and accelerated her scoring rate thereafter. She struck 17 fours and two sixes in her innings, including three fours in the final over. Prendergast provided valuable support, hitting back-to-back fours in the 12th over and keeping the scoreboard ticking.Sri Lanka's chase got off to a shaky start with the early loss of Vishmi Gunaratne. However, Harshitha Samarawickrama threatened to repeat her heroics from the first T20I, striking two fours in the first over and a six off Jane Maguire.Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari put on a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket, keeping Sri Lanka in the hunt. But Maguire's dismissal of Samarawickrama for 65 off 44 balls proved to be a turning point.Dilhari continued to find the boundaries, but Sri Lanka lost wickets at the other end. They needed 22 off the last two overs and 16 off six. Dilhari struck a six in the final over to reach her fifty, but with eight needed off two, she failed to connect cleanly, allowing Ireland to level the series.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team made a triumphant start to their T20I series against Ireland in Dublin, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the first match. The victory was largely orchestrated by the brilliance of Harshitha Samarawickrama, who smashed an unbeaten 86 off just 45 deliveries.Ireland, after being sent in to bat, posted a competitive total of 145 for 6. Opener Gaby Lewis (39) and Oria Prendergast (29) provided a solid foundation with a 59-run partnership for the second wicket. Captain Laura Delany (25) and Rebecca Stokell (21*) also made valuable contributions.However, Sri Lanka's batting lineup proved too strong for Ireland's bowlers. Samarawickrama, fresh off her top-scoring performance in the Asia Cup final, once again led the charge. She combined with Vishmi Gunaratne (30) for an 83-run opening stand, setting the platform for a successful chase.Samarawickrama continued to dominate the innings, hitting 15 fours and a six. She received support from the rest of the top order, with Nilakshi de Silva (15) and Kavisha Dilhari (14) making useful contributions.Ireland's bowlers struggled to contain Samarawickrama's onslaught. Freya Sargent, Arlene Kelly, and Delany each picked up a wicket, but they were unable to stem the flow of runs.On the bowling front, Sri Lanka's left-arm seam duo of Udeshika Prabhodani and Sugandika Kumari kept Ireland's scoring in check. Offspinner Inoshi Priyadharshani was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 for 35.The victory is a significant boost for Sri Lanka, who are without their star player Chamari Athapaththu. Samarawickrama's 86 not out is the fourth-highest T20I score by a Sri Lanka batter and the highest by anyone other than Athapaththu.

Sri Lanka's triumphant women's cricket team, fresh from their Asia Cup victory, will embark on a historic tour of Ireland from August 11-20. This will mark Sri Lanka's maiden bilateral tour of Ireland and Ireland's first home series of the year.The tour will feature two T20Is and three ODIs, with the first T20I scheduled for August 11 in Dublin. The second T20I will also be played in Dublin on August 13, followed by the ODI series in Belfast. The ODIs will be part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women's Championship cycle.Sri Lanka has enjoyed a remarkable run of form in 2024, winning 18 of their 23 white-ball matches. They also boast an unblemished record against Ireland, having won all six previous encounters. However, Ireland has yet to lose a bilateral series this year, making this tour a significant test for both teams.The tour will provide a valuable opportunity for both sides to prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in February 2023. Sri Lanka will be eager to continue their winning ways, while Ireland will be determined to prove their mettle against a top-ranked opponent.The full schedule of Sri Lanka's tour of Ireland 2024 is as follows:* August 11: 1st T20I, Dublin* August 13: 2nd T20I, Dublin* August 16: 1st ODI, Belfast* August 18: 2nd ODI, Belfast* August 20: 3rd ODI, Belfast

Ireland and Zimbabwe Recreate Rare All-Run Five, Reminiscent of 1992 India-Australia ClassicOn Day 4 of the one-off Test between Ireland and Zimbabwe at Belfast's Civil Service Cricket Club, an extraordinary and rare incident occurred that sparked widespread excitement on social media. Ireland batters Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine completed an all-run five during their team's second innings, a feat that brought back memories of a similar moment from 1992.In the 18th over of Ireland's chase of 158, McBrine punched a delivery from Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava through the covers. Zimbabwe fielder Tendai Chatara chased the ball and managed to stop it just inside the ropes. However, Tucker and McBrine showcased remarkable running between the wickets, completing five runs.This exceptional play contributed significantly to Ireland's recovery and eventual four-wicket victory, with McBrine remaining unbeaten on 55. The viral video of this incident brought to mind the 1992 match between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval.During India's first innings, Javagal Srinath drove a pitch-up delivery from Australia's Craig McDermott through the off-side. Allan Border, fielding at mid-off, chased the ball as it raced towards the boundary. Border managed to save the boundary, but the Indian tailenders Raju and Srinath ran five, marking a rare achievement in cricket history.The resurgence of these videos has created a buzz on social media platforms, with fans and analysts reminiscing about these remarkable moments. These incidents, separated by decades, highlight the spirit of cricket and the unforgettable moments that make the sport beloved by millions worldwide.

Ireland's historic Test victory over Zimbabwe was sealed on the fourth day at Belfast, marking their first home Test win and their second consecutive Test triumph.After being reduced to 21 for 5 on the third evening, Ireland's Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine staged a remarkable recovery with a 96-run partnership. Tucker scored a gritty 56, while McBrine remained unbeaten on 55, guiding Ireland to a four-wicket victory.The morning session on the fourth day proved decisive as Ireland capitalized on the favorable batting conditions. Tucker and McBrine attacked the Zimbabwean bowlers, exploiting the gaps in the outfield and punishing loose deliveries.Zimbabwe's hopes of a comeback were dashed as Ngarava and Muzarabani, who had wreaked havoc on the third evening, failed to replicate their performance. The Irish batters remained disciplined and played with confidence, gradually chipping away at the target.McBrine's all-round performance was crucial for Ireland. In addition to his half-century, he also claimed four wickets in Zimbabwe's second innings, including the key wicket of Craig Ervine.Zimbabwe's batting had been led by Tadiwanashe Marumani's 74 in the first innings and Ryan Burl's 57 in the second. However, Ireland's bowlers, led by McBrine and Mark Adair, kept the Zimbabwean batsmen in check.Ireland's victory is a testament to their resilience and determination. After a disappointing start to the Test, they fought back admirably to secure a memorable win.

Ireland Set to Host Zimbabwe in Historic Test Debut at Civil Service Cricket GroundThe picturesque Civil Service Cricket Ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland, will make its Test debut on Thursday as Ireland welcomes Zimbabwe for the ninth Test match in their history. Ireland, who have won only one of their previous eight Tests, will be aiming to secure a second consecutive victory after their triumph over Afghanistan in March.However, Ireland will be without their star bowler Josh Little, who has been allowed to develop his skills in franchise leagues around the world. In his absence, Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy will lead the Irish attack. For Adair, a native of Northern Ireland, playing a Test in Belfast holds special significance.Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are facing one of their lowest points in international cricket. They have not participated in recent ODI and T20I World Cups and are not part of the World Test Championship. With only two Test wins since 2013, Zimbabwe will need to rely on the experience of captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams.One player to watch for Zimbabwe is Blessing Muzarabani, a tall fast bowler who has impressed in white-ball cricket. His ability to generate movement in the air and off the pitch could pose a challenge to Ireland's batters.Ireland is expected to make one change from their victory against Afghanistan, with left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys likely to replace Theo van Woerkom. Zimbabwe, with ten new players in their squad, could include Brian Bennett and Johnathan Campbell in their XI.The weather forecast for Belfast predicts rain throughout the five-day Test, which could make batting conditions challenging. However, the venue has been a high-scoring ground in limited-overs matches.

Uncapped legspinner Gavin Hoey has received his maiden call-up to the Ireland squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe, which begins on July 25 in Belfast. He joins a spin attack that includes left-arm fingerspinner Matthew Humphreys and offspinner Andy McBrine.Humphreys and Hoey, who have just one Test cap between them, replace Theo van Woerkom and George Dockrell. Seamer Matthew Foster, who was part of the Ireland squad that toppled Afghanistan for their first Test win in March earlier this year, also didn't find a place in this squad.Humphreys had a tough initiation into Test cricket, conceding 67 runs in ten overs on debut against Sri Lanka in Galle last year. However, his recent form is more encouraging: he bagged 15 wickets in two first-class games for Ireland Emerging side against West Indies Academy at an average of 12.60, including two five-wicket hauls, last month."Humphreys made his Test debut in Sri Lanka and found the going difficult against good players of spin out in the subcontinent," Andrew White, the national selector, said in a statement. "He'd admit himself that he went through a period of a loss of form and maybe a loss of confidence, but he's worked extremely hard to come back into the reckoning and his performances for Ireland Wolves have been exactly what we were looking for."White also talked up Hoey as an attacking option. "Hoey is a talented legspinner, and his ability to spin the ball both ways gives us a strong wicket-taking option," he said. "Again, he's a player that's been on the radar for a while and can play across all three formats. But this is an opportunity for him to come into the Test squad and get used to the environment."Left-arm quick Josh Little, who is currently with LA Knight Riders in the USA for the MLC, is a notable absentee from the Test squad. Little has prioritized white-ball cricket, including franchise opportunities, but is passionate about playing Test cricket in the future. While Little is now a regular in T20 leagues around the world, he is yet to make his Test debut."I sort of blocked off this [next] two years as pretty busy franchise-wise, and then after that I'll be putting an eye on Test cricket," Little told BBC Sport. "It's definitely something I want to do, something I'm passionate about doing. I can guarantee I will play Test cricket at some stage."The one-off Test against Zimbabwe will be PJ Moor's first international game against his country of birth. Moor had qualified to play for Ireland in October 2022 and was more recently part of the Ireland side, which earned their first Test win, in Abu Dhabi.

Zimbabwe has announced its Test squad for the upcoming one-off match against Ireland, scheduled for July 25-29 in Belfast. The squad features several new faces, including Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, and Johnathan Campbell, who have all been part of the ongoing T20I series against India. Joylord Gumbie, who is yet to make his Test debut, has also been included in the 15-man squad.Zimbabwe last played a Test match in February 2023 against West Indies in Bulawayo. They are not part of the ICC's World Test Championship and will be traveling to Ireland for their first-ever Test match against the Irish.Craig Ervine will lead the Zimbabwean team, while Sean Williams, who missed the West Indies series due to injury, makes a comeback. Williams, along with Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Victor Nyauchi, and Richard Ngarava, will provide the team with much-needed experience.Of the new faces, Bennett and Campbell have only played T20Is so far, while Madande has appeared in both ODIs and T20Is. Ervine and Williams are the most experienced Test players in the squad, with 20 and 14 appearances, respectively.Ireland, on the other hand, has only played eight Tests since making their debut in 2018. They lost their first seven Tests before securing their first win against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.Zimbabwe's squad for the one-off Test in Ireland:* Craig Ervine (capt)* Brian Bennett* Johnathan Campbell* Tendai Chatara* Tanaka Chivanga* Joylord Gumbie (wk)* Roy Kaia* Clive Madande (wk)* Wellington Masakadza* Prince Masvaure* Blessing Muzarabani* Dion Myers* Richard Ngarava* Victor Nyauchi* Sean Williams

USA Qualifies for Super Eight in Maiden T20 World Cup AppearanceThe United States cricket team has secured a historic berth in the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup in Florida, despite their final group game against Ireland being abandoned due to inclement weather.The no-result handed USA five points, propelling them to a second-place finish behind India in Group A. The Americans had kicked off their campaign with a thrilling victory over Canada in Dallas, followed by a stunning upset of Pakistan in a Super Over. Although they suffered a setback against India, USA entered the Ireland match needing just a single point to advance.The heavy rainfall that plagued Florida throughout the week left the outfield in Lauderhill saturated on Friday morning. Despite efforts to prepare the ground for play, the rain returned, dashing any hopes of a match.USA's qualification for the Super Eight not only marks a significant milestone in their T20 World Cup debut but also guarantees their automatic qualification for the 2026 edition of the tournament in India and Sri Lanka.The washout eliminated Pakistan, Canada, and Ireland from Group A. All three teams are scheduled to play in Florida over the weekend, weather permitting. Canada will face India on Saturday, while Ireland will take on Pakistan on Sunday. Ireland remains the only team in Group A without a win, having lost to India and Canada before the abandonment against USA.