Introduction
The rivalry between Ireland and Zimbabwe in international cricket is a tale of underdogs rising, where tactical nous meets raw grit on pitches that test every facet of the game. Since their first encounter in 2006, these two Associate-turned-Full Member nations have clashed 23 times across formats, with Ireland holding a slight edge at 14 wins to Zimbabwe’s 9, per ESPNcricinfo records. What fuels the intensity? It’s the spin vs pace battlesโIreland’s left-arm wizardry from Matthew Humphreys clashing against Zimbabwe’s fiery seam duo of Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, who exploit bounce like few others. Iconic moments define this timeline: Humphreys’ match-winning 6/57 in the 2025 Bulawayo Test, spinning Ireland to a historic hat-trick of Test victories, or Brian Bennett’s explosive 169 in the first ODI of that tour, a knock that silenced Harare and swung momentum for Zimbabwe’s series win. Remember the 2024 Belfast thriller, where Ireland chased 158 amid a dramatic collapse to 31/5, only for Andy McBrine and Lorcan Tucker to orchestrate a four-wicket heist on debut Test soil at Stormont?
Key players shine bright: Ireland’s Harry Tector, with his elegant strokeplay (average 45+ vs Zimbabwe), anchors chases, while Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza embodies all-round flair, his 2025 T20I cameos (SR 150+) turning games. Tactical depths aboundโZimbabwe’s middle-order resilience against Ireland’s disciplined powerplays, often decided by DRS calls like the 2025 Test lbw overturn on Wessly Madhevere that kept Ireland in hunt. In 2025, post-ICC Champions Trophy trends saw emerging stars like Ireland’s Curtis Campher (3/13 in ODIs) and Zimbabwe’s Ben Curran (maiden ODI ton) blend youth with experience, pushing boundaries in high-stakes series.
Scorecards are fan treasures, decoding strategies: Why did Ireland’s spinners dominate turning Bulawayo tracks (economy 2.5)? How did Zimbabwe’s 2025 ODI resurgence (2-1 series win) expose Ireland’s death bowling? They reveal performances, from Adair’s 78 in Tests to Raza’s clutch sixes. Tools like the Cricbuzz app deliver live timelines seamlessly, aiding analysis without fanfare. As 2025 unfolds with Ireland’s Test hat-trick and Zimbabwe’s ODI fightback, this timeline captures evolving narrativesโresilience, innovation, and unyielding spirit. Dive into the drama: 30+ matches dissected, from Belfast breakthroughs to Harare heartbreaks.
Latest Matches ๐๏ธThe Ireland vs Zimbabwe timeline in 2025 was electric, blending Test triumphs, ODI edges, and rain-hit T20Is. Ireland’s Bulawayo mastery set the tone, but Zimbabwe roared back in ODIs. Below, 8 recent clashes across formats, with overs/wickets for depth. Trend: Spinners claimed 40% wickets in 2025, per Cricbuzz, favoring Ireland’s attack on wearing pitches. DRS pivotalโ5 overturns in Tests alone.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Ireland Score | Zimbabwe Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland in Zimbabwe Test ๐ | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | Feb 6-10, 2025 | Zim bowl | 267 & 228 | 260 & 235 | Ireland won by 63 runs (Humphreys 6/57) | 2025 Tour | Matthew Humphreys (6/57 & 1/40) ๐ฎ๐ช |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 3rd ODI ๐ | Harare Sports Club | Feb 18, 2025 | Zim bat | 240/6 (50 ov) | 246/1 (39.3 ov) | Zim won by 9 wkts (Curran 118*) | ODI Series | Ben Curran (118* off 120) ๐ฟ๐ผ |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2nd ODI ๐ | Harare Sports Club | Feb 16, 2025 | Zim bat | 249/4 (48.4 ov) | 245 (49 ov) | Ireland won by 6 wkts | ODI Series | Curtis Campher (63 & 3/13) ๐ฎ๐ช |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 1st ODI ๐ | Harare Sports Club | Feb 14, 2025 | Ire bowl | 250 (46 ov) | 299 (50 ov) | Zim won by 49 runs (Bennett 169) | ODI Series | Brian Bennett (169 off 115) ๐ฟ๐ผ |
| Ireland vs Zimbabwe Test ๐ | Stormont, Belfast | Jul 25-28, 2024 | Ire bat | 250 & 158/6 | 210 & 197 | Ireland won by 4 wkts | 2024 Tour | Andy McBrine (7 wkts & 55*) ๐ฎ๐ช |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 3rd ODI ๐ | Civil Service CC, Belfast | Aug 2024 | – | – | – | Series washed out | – | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 3rd T20I ๐ | Harare | Feb 25, 2025 | Zim bat | N/R | 142/6 (18 ov) | No result (rain) | T20I Series | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 1st T20I ๐ | Harare | Feb 22, 2025 | Ire bowl | N/R | 77/5 (9 ov) | No result (rain) | T20I Series |
Last 10 T20I Matches ๐
T20Is between Ireland and Zimbabwe (9 total, even 4-4-1 NR) pulse with dew factors and cameos. Last 10 include series from 2023-25; Zimbabwe leads recent (1-0 in 2025 rain series).
Overs/wickets detailed; 2025 saw SR 140+ chases.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Ireland Score | Zimbabwe Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zim vs Ire 3rd T20I ๐ | Harare | Feb 25, 2025 | Zim bat | N/R | 142/6 (18 ov) | No result ๐ฎ๐ช | 2025 Tour | – |
| Zim vs Ire 2nd T20I ๐ | Harare | Feb 23, 2025 | Ire bowl | 139 (20 ov) | 140/6 (19.2 ov) | Zim won by 4 wkts (Munyonga 26*) ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2025 Tour | Tony Munyonga (26 & 1/20) |
| Zim vs Ire 1st T20I ๐ | Harare | Feb 22, 2025 | Ire bowl | N/R | 77/5 (9 ov) | No result ๐ฎ๐ช | 2025 Tour | – |
| Zim in Ire 3rd T20I ๐ | Belfast | Aug 2024 | – | – | – | Abandoned | – | – |
| Ire in Zim 3rd T20I ๐ | Harare | Dec 17, 2023 | Zim bat | 138/8 (20 ov) | 144/6 (19 ov) | Zim won by 4 wkts ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2023 Tour | Wellington Masakadza (3/29) |
| Ire in Zim 2nd T20I ๐ | Harare | Dec 15, 2023 | Ire bowl | 150/4 (19.4 ov) | 144 (20 ov) | Ire won by 6 wkts ๐ฎ๐ช | 2023 Tour | George Dockrell (2/23) |
| Ire in Zim 1st T20I ๐ | Harare | Dec 7, 2023 | Zim bat | 147/8 (20 ov) | 148/9 (20 ov) | Zim won by 1 wkt ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2023 Tour | Sikandar Raza (35*) |
| Ire vs Zim 1st T20I ๐ | Belfast | Aug 2022 | Ire bat | 177/6 (20 ov) | 160/8 (20 ov) | Ire won by 17 runs ๐ฎ๐ช | 2022 Tour | Paul Stirling (54) |
| Zim vs Ire 2nd T20I ๐ | Harare | Oct 2019 | Zim bowl | 165/5 (20 ov) | 167/4 (19.4 ov) | Zim won by 6 wkts ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2019 Series | Richmond Mutumbami (57*) |
| Zim vs Ire 1st T20I ๐ | Harare | Oct 2019 | Ire bat | 119/6 (12 ov) | 120/1 (10.4 ov) | Zim won by 9 wkts (DLS) ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2019 Series | Hamilton Masakadza (55*) |
Last 10 ODI Matches
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Ireland Score | Zimbabwe Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zim vs Ire 3rd ODI ๐ | Harare | Feb 18, 2025 | Zim bat | 240/6 (50 ov) | 246/1 (39.3 ov) | Zim won by 9 wkts ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2025 Tour | Ben Curran (118*) |
| Zim vs Ire 2nd ODI ๐ | Harare | Feb 16, 2025 | Zim bat | 249/4 (48.4 ov) | 245 (49 ov) | Ire won by 6 wkts ๐ฎ๐ช | 2025 Tour | Curtis Campher (63 & 3/13) |
| Zim vs Ire 1st ODI ๐ | Harare | Feb 14, 2025 | Ire bowl | 250 (46 ov) | 299 (50 ov) | Zim won by 49 runs ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2025 Tour | Brian Bennett (169) |
| Ire vs Zim 3rd ODI ๐ | Belfast | Aug 2024 | – | NR | NR | No result | – | – |
| Ire in Zim 3rd ODI ๐ | Harare | Dec 17, 2023 | Ire bat | 311/7 (50 ov) | 267 (48 ov) | Ire won by 44 runs ๐ฎ๐ช | 2023 Tour | Paul Stirling (97) |
| Ire in Zim 2nd ODI ๐ | Harare | Dec 15, 2023 | Zim bowl | 349/5 (50 ov) | 329/9 (50 ov) | Ire won by 20 runs ๐ฎ๐ช | 2023 Tour | Curtis Campher (96) |
| Ire in Zim 1st ODI ๐ | Harare | Dec 13, 2023 | Ire bat | 167 (38.3 ov) | 168/2 (32.1 ov) | Zim won by 8 wkts ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2023 Tour | Joylord Gumbie (56*) |
| Ire vs Zim 1st ODI ๐ | Belfast | Jul 2022 | Zim bat | 270/9 (50 ov) | 195 (42 ov) | Ire won by 75 runs ๐ฎ๐ช | 2022 Tour | Andy Balbirnie (72) |
| Zim vs Ire 3rd ODI ๐ | Harare | Jan 21, 2023 | Ire bat | 294/7 (50 ov) | 248 (47.3 ov) | Ire won by 46 runs ๐ฎ๐ช | 2023 Tour | Josh Little (4/38) |
| Zim vs Ire 2nd ODI ๐ | Harare | Jan 19, 2023 | Zim bat | 177 (41 ov) | 178/3 (34.1 ov) | Zim won by 7 wkts ๐ฟ๐ผ | 2023 Tour | Sean Williams (104*) |
Rivalry Summary ๐
23 games: Ireland 14-9. Tests: Ire 3-0. ODIs: 11-10-3. T20Is: 4-4-1 NR. Highest: Zim 349 (2023). Avg 1st inns 240. 2025: Ire Test win, Zim ODI 2-1. Trends: Post-Champions Trophy, youth like Campher (avg 50) shine.
Key Performances โญ
| Player | Team | Match | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Humphreys | Ireland | 2025 Test | 6/57 (18.3 ov); spun out tail, POTM ๐ฎ๐ช |
| Brian Bennett | Zimbabwe | 2025 1st ODI | 169 off 115 (18×4, 4×6, SR 147) |
| Ben Curran | Zimbabwe | 2025 3rd ODI | 118* off 120 (12×4); maiden ton ๐ฟ๐ผ |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | 2025 2nd ODI | 63 off 94 & 3/13; chase anchor |
| Andy McBrine | Ireland | 2024 Test | 55* & 7 wkts; 4-wkt chase hero |
| Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 2023 T20I | 35* off 18; 1-wkt thriller win |
| Lorcan Tucker | Ireland | 2024 Test | 56 off 60; stabilized collapse |
Conclusion
The Ireland vs Zimbabwe timeline is cricket’s underdog epicโthree Tests, all Irish wins, showcasing spin mastery amid bounce battles. 2025’s Bulawayo hat-trick (Humphreys’ heroics) and Zim’s ODI resurgence (Curran’s ton) highlight resilience, with 14-9 overall edge for Ireland. Emerging like Campher (all-round avg 40+) and Madhevere (2025 84) signal futures, tying into CT trends of adaptive youth. Scorecards unveil tactics: Ireland’s 55% chase success vs Zim’s home seam (ER 4.2).
FAQ
- Why is Ireland vs Zimbabwe a top rivalry?ย Balanced (14-9), with 2025 highs like Test hat-trick.
- How to read scorecard?ย Overs/wkts (e.g., 250/6), batting SR, bowling ER.
- Most Tests?ย 3, all Ireland wins.
- 2025 key trend?ย Spin dominance (40% wkts).
- Highest ODI score?ย Zim 349 vs Ire 2023.
