IRE beat ZIM by 9 wickets (D/L method) | Ireland vs Zimbabwe, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd T20I Match - Commentary

We are hearing that the DLS adjusted target for Ireland is 134 in 13 overs. If Stirling gets going, this should be fun. Stay tuned.

Not the best of bowling performances by Ireland. They were superb at the start, but then struggled after the rain breaks. However, once Williams was dismissed, they came back strongly. Mark Adair was expensive, but picked up 4 wickets. Craig Young was the best bowler on display, with 2/20 in his 3 overs.

The innings started as if there was no tomorrow, with the Zimbabwe batsmen going hard, living by the sword and even dying by it. They lost two wickets quickly and then the rain came. The second interruption proved to be fruitful for the visitors because after that, they came out firing. Williams and Ervine played with fire and added 67 in just 28 balls, which just changed the complexion of the innings. Ervine went on to score 55 while Williams' cameo of 34 from 12 balls might just prove to be the difference in the end.

That is a handy score posted by Zimbabwe. Given that this was a rain-interrupted game, the target would be adjusted by Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. So it is advantage Rhodesia.

Craig Young to Ryan Burl. OUT! A run out to end the innings. A length ball outside off, Burl heaves it towards deep mid-wicket. Shane Getkate comes running in and fires a rocket throw to the keeper as the batsmen return for the second. Wilson collects and disturbs the stumps, beating the dive of Burl. ZIMBABWE FINISH ON 132/8!

Craig Young to Ryan Burl. FOUR! A low full toss, Burl hammers this down the ground. The fielder gets across from long on and dives but in vain.

Kyle Jarvis is the new man in.

Craig Young to Richmond Mutumbami. OUT! What a catch by Tucker! Young bowls the ball short and on middle, Mutumbami pulls the ball towards the deep square leg region uppishly but he does not get good enough contact to get it over the fence. Tucker runs to his left and takes a superb diving catch. Zimbabwe are 7 down now!

Craig Young to Ryan Burl. Full and around middle, whipped straight to mid-wicket for a run.

Craig Young to Richmond Mutumbami. A low full toss, outside off, drilled down to long off for a single.

Craig Young to Richmond Mutumbami. FOUR! BOSH! Poor delivery. Short and wide outside off, Mutumbami crashes it over point and finds the fence!

Craig Young to bowl the final over.

Mark Adair to Ryan Burl. FOUR! Almost a yorker but whipped away! Burl moves to the leg side trying to make a little bit of room. Adair follows him but Burl was ready for him and he whips the ball behind square leg for a boundary. Adair finishes with figures of 3-0-40-4. Expensive but mighty effective.

Richmond Mutumbami walks in at number 8, replacing Moor.

Mark Adair to Peter Moor. OUT! Caught! The wickets are falling like ninepins now. A full toss, around off, Moor whips it over mid-wicket but does not get as much distance as much the elevation. Andy Balbirnie comes running in and takes a simple catch.

Mark Adair to Peter Moor. FOUR! Bad Ball! Adair bowls the slower ball but it angles down too much down the leg side. Moor just helps the ball behind the keeper, and it goes to the fine leg fence.

Mark Adair to Ryan Burl. The ball is full and on middle, Burl flicks it down to deep fine leg and takes a single.

Peter Moor in at number 7, replacing Ervine.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. OUT! Caught! Nice catch under pressure. A length ball, around off, Ervine swats it over mid-wicket. Two fielders get underneath it but there is perfect calling and in the end, Tyrone Kane from mid-wicket, takes it to his right. Fine knock from Ervine.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. Full and outside off, Ervine slashes but misses.

Mark Adair to bowl out. 2-0-31-2 so far.

Shane Getkate to Ryan Burl. Another close miss! The ball is bowled full and just outside off, Burl tries to heave the ball towards long on but he almost chops it onto the stump. It hits nothing and the ball rolls down to the fine leg fielder.

Shane Getkate to Ryan Burl. Around middle, whipped through mid-wicket for a well-run couple.

Deep square leg comes in while mid-wicket drops back. Third man goes very wide.

Shane Getkate to Ryan Burl. Good bowling by Getkate, wide on a length just outside off, the batter under edges it onto the ground.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. Full this time, carved over point, well fielded by Thompson in the deep, restricting the batsmen to just one.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. WIDE. Full and well outside off, left alone.

Ryan Burl comes in at number 6, replacing Raza.

Shane Getkate to Sikandar Raza. OUT! Caught! Getkate bowls the ball on a good length outside off, Raza tries to cut the ball over the cover-point fielder but he skies it instead. Adair positions himself well exactly below the ball and takes a good catch inside the circle at cover. Zimbabwe are 4 down now.

Shane Getkate to Sikandar Raza. Full and around off, Raza gets across and paddles it over short fine leg for a couple.

How will the allotted quota of bowlers pan out? 3 bowlers can bowl 3 while 2 can bowl 2 overs each.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. FOUR! The ball is on the leg stump line and is flatter, Ervine whips the ball towards the deep mid-wicket region off the front foot and into the gap for a four.

Gareth Delany to Sikandar Raza. Comes down the track to flick but misses and the ball goes off his pads towards short third man. A leg bye taken.

Gareth Delany to Sikandar Raza. Full ball on the off stump, Raza tries to flick the ball towards the leg side but misses.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. Held that back a little bit, Craig whipped it towards long on for a single to bring up a top-class half century. A batsman in form and he is showing it.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. Played back to the bowler by Ervine, the bowler dives to his right and saves at least a run.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. FOUR! A real drag down, around off, Ervine pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary!

Gareth Delany is back on. 1-0-16-0 so far.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. A full toss outside off, Ervine reaches out and drives it through the covers for a run.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. Yorker wide outside off, Ervine tries to whip it to the leg side but he misses it altogether. The plan here looks like to bowl wide and full outside off.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. SIX! BOOM! Ervine continues his onslaught. Full and outside off, Ervine gets down on a knee, fetches it and sweeps it prolifically over square leg!

Shane Getkate to Sikandar Raza. Raza gets off the mark. The ball is shortish on chest height outside off, Raza makes some room and helps it to third man for a single.

Shane Getkate to Sikandar Raza. Full and around middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. Full ball outside off by Getkate, Ervine plays it down to mid on for a single.

Sikandar Raza walks in to bat while Shane Getkate switches ends.

Mark Adair to Sean Williams. OUT! Caught! A soft dismissal. Low full toss outside off, Williams looks to go inside out but the ball hits the toe end of his bat and lobs towards cover. It is dipping but Paul Stirling does well to get across to his left and take a good catch. End of the 67-run stand. Zimbabwe have been given a much-needed uplift.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. Full ball this time by Adair on the pads of Ervine. He just chips it to the long on fielder but it drops short. They take a single.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. FOUR! BLUDGEONED! A short ball, around off, pulled through mid-wicket for a boundary!

Mark Adair to Sean Williams. Outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.

Mark Adair to Sean Williams. SIX! Ho ho! Where has this gone? A fuller length, around middle, Williams whips this over mid-wicket!

Mark Adair to Sean Williams. SIX! It is raining sixes here! Full and outside off, Williams clears his right leg and sends it sailing over long off!

Mark Adair to bowl now.

Gareth Delany to Sean Williams. Full and outside off, sliced over point for a run. 16 from the over, 29 from the last 2!

Gareth Delany to Sean Williams. SIX! Williams this time. Again tossed up outside off by Delany, Williams just maybe mistimes it but his power forces it over the head of the fielder at long on. Looks like an action replay to the last six.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. A full toss outside off, Ervine hammers it through long off. The fielder gets across to his right and stops the racing ball with a dive. Returns as poor throw to the bowler but does not concede any overthrow.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. SIX! Ervine hits a huge one! The ball is tossed up outside off and it is fullish. Ervine takes a foot ahead and he smashes it over the long on fence for a biggie. Maybe the ball is lost too.

Gareth Delany to Sean Williams. Landed outside off, Williams reverse sweeps this through third man. Lorcan Tucker dives full length to his right and makes a terrific stop. Just a run.

Gareth Delany to Craig Ervine. Full and outside off, driven down to long off for a single.

We are seeing spin for the first time. Gareth Delany to bowl his leggies.

Shane Getkate to Sean Williams. FOUR! BLAST! That is a poor ball. Short and wide outside off, Williams cuts it through point for a boundary!

Shane Getkate to Sean Williams. Yorker again just outside off. Williams plays it down the ground towards Getkate but he puts his left foot out and stops at least one run.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. Around off, punched towards wide long on for a single.

A box of balls comes out.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. SIX! Gigantic! What a shot! The ball was pitched fullish on off stump by Getkate, Ervine goes down on one knee and just lifts it over the fine leg region nonchalantly. He has timed that sweetly.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. Down the leg side, Ervine tickles it through fine leg where Tyrone Kane dives to his right and makes a half-stop. A couple taken.

Shane Getkate to Craig Ervine. 1st ball after the delay. Dot ball. A good yorker to start right on the off stump by Getkate.

Update - 6 pm local (1700 GMT) - Terrific news! The players are back on the field and the GAME HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 13 OVERS PER SIDE. Shane Getkate has the ball in his hand. Ervine to face.

Update - 5.50 pm local (1650 GMT) - The umpires had come and the umpires have gone. Don't know what they saw but whatever they saw, they are happy with it. They have signalled to the Irish team to do their warm-up. That means we should be resuming anytime soon.

Good news! We are hearing that the umpires are going to have an inspection at 5.45 pm local (1645 GMT). Fingers crossed!

Update - 5.30 pm local (1630 GMT) - All the covers are off now. Gary Wilson has already got his pads on (Or did he not remove them at all?) The third umpire is having a look at the conditions of the ground. We may not be too far away from a resumption.

Update - 5.15 pm local (1615 GMT) - Plenty of activity now. The covers are slowly coming off while the ground is being cleared of water with a rope moved around.

Update - 5 pm local (1600 GMT) - The rain seems to have stopped. The clouds are slowly seen being blown away and there is some blue background. No activity on the earth though. The covers and the ground staff, both stay stationary.

Another delay. The showers have come back again and are a bit heavier this time around. The covers are coming on. Unfortunate for all the fans and players. Hopefully, we resume quickly.

Tyrone Kane to Craig Ervine. Short ball on middle by Kane. Ervine glances it to fine leg for a single.

Tyrone Kane to Sean Williams. Full and outside off, Williams drives this down the ground. Mid off gets across quickly to his left and dives, parrying the ball towards mid on. A quick run taken.

Tyrone Kane to Sean Williams. FOUR! Beautiful shot through the covers again. The ball is very full again and Kane hasn't learnt from his mistakes. He is punished by Williams and has conceded a boundary.

Tyrone Kane to Craig Ervine. Flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Tyrone Kane to Craig Ervine. Great comeback! The ball is bowled on a length on middle by Kane. It swings in sharply and hits Ervine.

Tyrone Kane to Craig Ervine. FOUR! Full length ball wide outside off by Kane, it is pushed sweetly through the covers and in the gap by Ervine. Four runs given.

Change of ends for Kane.

Mark Adair to Sean Williams. FOUR! Fine shot. A bizarre over from Adair. Got a wicket but also went for three boundaries.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. A caught behind appeal now! Everything is happening in this over. On a length outside off, Craig looks to push it towards third man but hangs his bat limply in the end. Wilson takes it and celebrates, appealing for the catch but the umpire is unmoved. Williams meanwhile, looks for the run as Wilson has thrown the ball in the air, away from him, in excitement. But the ball is not far and he goes back.

Mark Adair to Craig Ervine. FOUR! BELLIGERENT! A short ball outside off, Ervine slaps it over cover for a boundary!

Sean Williams walks in at number 4, replacing Taylor.

Mark Adair to Brendan Taylor. OUT! Caught! This time it is Taylor who departs. The ball is on a good length just outside off, Taylor charges down the ground and tries to lift it over mid off. He skies it over Tucker at mid off but he runs back and takes a difficult catch. Zimbabwe are 2 down for just 20 runs.

Mark Adair to Brendan Taylor. FOUR! Nicely done. On a length outside off, Taylor opens the face of his bat and guides it to the third man fence!

Mark Adair into the attack.

Craig Young to Craig Ervine. The batsman gets a bottom edge on that one.

Craig Young to Craig Ervine. FOUR! Fine shot. A short ball, outside off, Ervine pulls it over mid-wicket!

Craig Young to Craig Ervine. The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.

Craig Young to Craig Ervine. A short ball, Ervine looks to pull but misses.

Craig Young to Craig Ervine. Around middle and leg, Ervine looks to tuck it to the leg side but misses.

Craig Ervine comes in at number 3, replacing Masakadza.

Craig Young to Hamilton Masakadza. OUT! Caught! What has Masakadza done here? The ball was short and on the leg side, it was sitting there to be hit. However, Masakadza hooks and top edges it in the air. Kevin O'Brien runs to his right and takes a dolly. Masakadza's horror run of form continues in international cricket.

Tyrone Kane to Brendan Taylor. Full ball on middle, edged to third man by Taylor.

Good news! The players are back on the field and play is about to resume!

The rain seems to have eased off and the umpires are proactive in asking for the covers to get removed off the square. All the covers are OFF and we might be starting sooner rather than later.

Oh dear. The intensity of the drizzle has increased and the covers are coming on. In fact, it has almost stopped. In the background, we can see that the hills are reasonably bright, so this should be a passing shower. Just a single cover on, so that is positive news.

Tyrone Kane to Brendan Taylor. FOUR! Kane gets the punishment. Short ball bowled outside off, Taylor goes onto the back foot and cuts it over the cover-point fielder for a boundary.

Tyrone Kane to Hamilton Masakadza. Good length ball on middle and leg, Masakadza plays it to mid-wicket for a single.

It has started to RAIN now. Seems to be a passing shower. The players and umpires do not seem too fussed. Meanwhile, Gary Wilson calls for a helmet as he stands up to the stumps.

Tyrone Kane to Hamilton Masakadza. The batter plays it off the back foot to the off side.

Tyrone Kane to Hamilton Masakadza. Wide! Length ball on leg side, Masakadza lets it go.

Tyrone Kane to Brendan Taylor. Fullish and on middle, pushed to mid-wicket for a single.

Tyrone Kane to Brendan Taylor. Length ball just outside off, played down to third man.

Tyrone Kane to bowl from the other end.

Craig Young to Hamilton Masakadza. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.

Craig Young to Brendan Taylor. Excellent stop by Mark Adair! Full and around off, Brendan works it through mid-wicket where Mark dives to his right and makes a good stop. A run taken.

Craig Young to Brendan Taylor. Landed outside off, played straight to point.

Craig Young to Brendan Taylor. FOUR! Full and outside off, Taylor comes down the track and biffs it wide of mid off for a boundary!

Craig Young to Brendan Taylor. Full and down the leg side, flicked straight to mid-wicket.

Craig Young to Brendan Taylor. Full and around off, Taylor looks to tuck it to the leg side but misses and gets hit on the pads.

The anthems are done and dusted and we are all ready for the game! Out come the Zimbabwe opening batsmen, Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza. Craig Young to start off proceedings for the game. Taylor to face. Here we go...

The players walk out for the national anthems. It is Zimbabwe's first.

It is nice to see that at least we are guaranteed of a start. Just a reminder that the first T20I on Wednesday was washed out and the winner tonight will take an unassailable lead in the 3-match series.

Ireland (Playing XI) - Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Gary Wilson(c), Kevin O'Brien, Lorcan Tucker(wk), Gareth Delany, Shane Getkate, Mark Adair, Greg Thompson, Tyrone Kane and Craig Young.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Hamilton Masakadza(c), Ryan Burl, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor(wk), Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu and Richmond Mutumbami.

TOSS - Time for the spin of the coin. Gary Wilson flips it, Hamilton Masakadza calls Heads but it is a Tail. IRELAND ELECT TO CHASE.

WEATHER - It was raining before the start of the match and it is heavily overcast but the forecast seems to be pretty good for the rest of the evening.

Good evening folks as we welcome you to the 2nd T20 International between Zimbabwe and the hosts Ireland. It is a windy day today in Bready, Northern Ireland with the chances of rain seemingly less. Zimbabwe will be looking to forget the ODI series and hit the ground running in the shorter format which might suit them more. Ireland, on the other hand, will try to enforce another defeat on the Zimbabwe team. Stay tuned for the toss!