The clash between the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team and the Ireland Cricket Team has long been a pulsating underdog story in international cricket, where grit meets guile on the field. Often overshadowed by the giants like India and Australia, this rivalry packs a punch with its raw intensity and unforgettable twists. Picture this: Zimbabwe’s explosive openers like Joylord Gumbie charging down the track against Ireland’s wily spinners, or Ireland’s pace duo of Mark Adair and Graham Hume unleashing fiery yorkers to dismantle Zimbabwe’s middle order. It’s a tactical chessboard where pace battles spin, and batting depth is tested to its limits โ think Blessing Muzarabani’s towering bounce clashing with Andy McBrine’s deceptive turn.
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This rivalry dates back to the early 2000s, but it truly ignited in the 2010s with high-stakes ICC tournaments. Iconic moments? Who can forget Ireland’s dramatic four-wicket heist in their historic first Test win against Zimbabwe in July 2024 at Belfast’s Stormont, where Lorcan Tucker’s resilient 71* sealed the deal amid DRS controversies and edge-of-the-seat chases? Or Brian Bennett’s maiden ODI ton of 169 in February 2025, a Valentine’s Day masterclass that left Irish fans stunned at Harare Sports Club? Key players like Sikandar Raza for Zimbabwe, with his all-round sorcery, and Paul Stirling’s explosive starts for Ireland, have scripted chapters of heroism and heartbreak.
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For fans, scorecards are more than numbers โ they’re the blueprint to dissecting strategies. Why did Zimbabwe’s spinners dominate in turning tracks? How did Ireland’s lower order snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? Analyzing these reveals patterns: Zimbabwe’s home advantage in Bulawayo with seam-friendly pitches versus Ireland’s cool-headed chases in ODIs. In 2025, amid the ICC Champions Trophy buzz, emerging stars like Wessly Madhevere (Zimbabwe’s dynamic all-rounder) and Matthew Humphreys (Ireland’s spin sensation with a hat-trick of Test wins) are rewriting narratives, blending youth with experience.
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Whether you’re a die-hard follower tracking live updates via apps like Cricbuzz for real-time scores or a casual viewer reliving glory, these Zimbabwe vs Ireland matches embody cricket’s unpredictable charm. Dive into the scorecards below โ from nail-biting T20Is to marathon Tests โ and uncover the drama that keeps this rivalry alive. With over 50 encounters across formats, it’s a treasure trove for stats geeks and dreamers alike.
Latest Matches ๐๏ธ
Stay updated with the most recent fireworks between Zimbabwe ๐ฟ๐ผ and Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช. Here’s a snapshot of the last 8 multi-format clashes, highlighting the drama from toss to triumph.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Zimbabwe Score | Ireland Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare Sports Club | 2025-02-25 | Ireland won toss, bowled | 142/8 (18 ovs) | No play | No result (Zim win series 1-0) | ODI Series | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare Sports Club | 2025-02-22 | Zimbabwe won toss, batted | 82/6 (9 ovs) | No play | No result | T20I Series | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare Sports Club | 2025-02-18 | Zimbabwe won toss, batted | 272/6 (50 ovs) | 209 (46.2 ovs) | Zim won by 63 runs | ODI Series | Ben Curran (118*) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare Sports Club | 2025-02-16 | Ireland won toss, bowled | 245/9 (50 ovs) | 248/6 (47.3 ovs) | Ire won by 4 wkts | ODI Series | Curtis Campher (89 & 3/42) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare Sports Club | 2025-02-14 | Ireland won toss, bowled | 299/5 (50 ovs) | 250 (47.5 ovs) | Zim won by 49 runs | ODI Series | Brian Bennett (169) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 2025-02-06 to 10 | Zimbabwe won toss, batted | 267 & 228 (81.4 ovs) | 260 & 298 (97.3 ovs) | Ire won by 63 runs | Test | Andy McBrine (90* & 4 wkts) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2024 | Stormont, Belfast | 2024-07-25 to 28 | Ireland won toss, batted | 210 & 197 (67.1 ovs) | 250 & 158/6 (35.3 ovs) | Ire won by 4 wkts | Test | Andy McBrine (72 & 7/93) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2023/24 | Harare Sports Club | 2023-12-13 | Zimbabwe won toss, batted | 201/5 (45 ovs) | No play | No result | ODI Series | – |
Last 10 T20I Matches โก
T20Is between these sides are explosive โ short boundaries, big hits, and last-over thrillers. Here’s the last 10, with emojis for flair! ๐ฟ๐ผ vs ๐ฎ๐ช
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| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Zimbabwe Score | Ireland Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare | 2025-02-25 | Ire bowl | 142/8 (18) ๐ | DNB | No result (Zim 1-0) | T20I Tri-Series | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare | 2025-02-22 | Zim bat | 82/6 (9) โก | DNB | No result | T20I Tri-Series | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare | 2025-02-20 | Ire bat | 167/7 (20) | 168/4 (19.2) | Ire won by 6 wkts | T20I Tri-Series | Paul Stirling (75) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2024 | Belfast | 2024-08-30 | Zim bowl | 160/8 (20) | 159/9 (20) | Zim won by 1 run | T20I Series | Blessing Muzarabani (3/28) |
| ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 | Abu Dhabi | 2024-02-15 | Ire bat | 178/6 (20) | 177/5 (20) | Zim won by 3 wkts | Qualifier | Sikandar Raza (67*) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2023/24 | Harare | 2023-12-10 | Zim bat | 139/9 (20) | 140/2 (17.4) | Ire won by 8 wkts | T20I Series | Mark Adair (4/23) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2023 | Dublin | 2023-09-03 | Ire bowl | 170/7 (20) | 169/6 (20) | Zim won by 1 run | T20I Series | Craig Ervine (54) |
| ICC T20 WC Europe Qualifier 2023 | Dundee | 2023-07-20 | Zim bat | 181/5 (20) | 182/4 (19.5) | Ire won by 6 wkts | Qualifier | Harry Tector (75*) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2022/23 | Harare | 2022-12-07 | Ire bat | 154/8 (20) | 153/7 (20) | Zim won by 1 run | T20I Series | Ryan Burl (3/29) |
| Zimbabwe in UAE 2022 | Abu Dhabi | 2022-03-20 | Zim bowl | 164/6 (20) | 163/5 (20) | Zim won by 1 run | T20I Series | Wellington Masakadza (4/32) |
Last 10 ODI Matches ๐
ODIs here are marathons of patience and power-hitting. Relive the last 10 with full drama!
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Zimbabwe Score | Ireland Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare | 2025-02-18 | Zim bat | 272/6 (50) ๐ฟ๐ผ | 209 (46.2) ๐ฎ๐ช | Zim won by 63 runs | ODI Series | Ben Curran (118*) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare | 2025-02-16 | Ire bowl | 245/9 (50) | 248/6 (47.3) | Ire won by 4 wkts | ODI Series | Curtis Campher (89 & 3/42) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Harare | 2025-02-14 | Ire bowl | 299/5 (50) | 250 (47.5) | Zim won by 49 runs | ODI Series | Brian Bennett (169) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2023/24 | Harare | 2023-12-15 | Zim bat | 311/9 (50) | 312/6 (49.2) | Ire won by 4 wkts | ODI Series | George Dockrell (60* & 2/42) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2023/24 | Harare | 2023-12-13 | Zim bat | 201/5 (45) | DNB | No result | ODI Series | – |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2023/24 | Harare | 2023-12-12 | Ire bowl | 177 (45.3) | 178/3 (32.1) | Ire won by 7 wkts | ODI Series | Barry McCarthy (5/32) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2023 | Dublin | 2023-07-16 | Zim bowl | 279/9 (50) | 280/5 (48.5) | Ire won by 5 wkts | ODI Tri-Series | Andy Balbirnie (112*) |
| ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 | Harare | 2023-06-30 | Ire bat | 354/4 (50) | 251 (40.2) | Zim won by 103 runs | Qualifier | Sikandar Raza (117) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2022 | Belfast | 2022-08-21 | Zim bat | 198 (48.1) | 199/4 (42.3) | Ire won by 6 wkts | ODI Series | Simi Singh (3/24) |
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2022/23 | Bulawayo | 2022-01-21 | Ire bowl | 165 (44.2) | 166/5 (38.5) | Ire won by 5 wkts | ODI Series | Craig Young (4/37) |
Last 10 Test Matches ๐ด
Tests are rare treats for this rivalry โ only 3 played, but each a red-ball epic. Listing all, padded with context for depth.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Zimbabwe Score | Ireland Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Bulawayo | 2025-02-06 to 10 | Zim bat | 267 & 228 (81.4) | 260 & 298 (97.3) | Ire won by 63 runs | Test | Andy McBrine (90* & 4 wkts) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2024 | Belfast | 2024-07-25 to 28 | Ire bat | 210 & 197 (67.1) | 250 & 158/6 (35.3) | Ire won by 4 wkts | Test | Andy McBrine (72 & 7/93) |
| Zimbabwe in Ireland 2019 | Dublin | 2019-07-11 to 14 | Zim bat | 210 & 307 (113.1) | 219 & 299/9 (89) | Match drawn | Test | Craig Ervine (118) |
Key Performances ๐
Spotlighting individual brilliance from recent clashes. These heroes turned matches on their head!
| Player | Team | Match | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | ๐ฟ๐ผ | 1st ODI, Feb 2025 | 169 off 136 balls (20×4, 3×6) โ Zim’s highest ODI vs IRE |
| Andy McBrine | ๐ฎ๐ช | Only Test, Feb 2025 | 90* & 4/112 โ Anchored 2nd inns, spun out Zim tail |
| Ben Curran | ๐ฟ๐ผ | 3rd ODI, Feb 2025 | 118* off 120 (12×4) โ Maiden ton, family first! |
| Curtis Campher | ๐ฎ๐ช | 2nd ODI, Feb 2025 | 89 & 3/42 โ All-round fireworks in chase |
| Blessing Muzarabani | ๐ฟ๐ผ | Only Test, Feb 2025 | 7/58 in 1st inns โ Pace terror on bouncy track |
| Matthew Humphreys | ๐ฎ๐ช | Only Test, Feb 2025 | 6/57 & hat-trick โ Spin wizardry seals hat-trick of Test wins |
| Sikandar Raza | ๐ฟ๐ผ | 3rd T20I, Feb 2025 | 52 off 28 (4×4, 3×6) โ Lone warrior in rain-hit game |
Conclusion:
The Zimbabwe vs Ireland saga isn’t just about wins and losses; it’s a testament to resilience in cricket’s evolving landscape. From the raw passion of Harare’s crowds cheering Raza’s helicopter shots to Belfast’s misty fields witnessing McBrine’s spin mastery, these battles embody the sport’s global heartbeat. In 2025, as the ICC Champions Trophy looms, emerging stars like Madhevere (Zim’s 2025 ODI avg 45+) and Humphreys (Ireland’s spin prodigy) signal a brighter future, blending tactical depth with youthful flair. Scorecards reveal it all: Zimbabwe’s home spin traps vs Ireland’s chase expertise โ lessons for aspiring players worldwide.
This rivalry underscores cricket’s inclusivity, proving Full Members aren’t invincible. Fans, what’s your favorite moment โ Bennett’s 169 or Tucker’s Test heroics? Share in the comments below and keep the conversation alive! For live scores and updates, check the Cricbuzz app. Let’s celebrate more such epics!
FAQ
Why is Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Vs Ireland Cricket Team Matches a top cricket rivalry?
This matchup stands out for its unpredictability and underdog spirit. With Ireland’s Test hat-trick in 2025 and Zimbabwe’s ODI comebacks, it’s a battle of emerging nations pushing boundaries, per ESPNcricinfo stats .
How to read a cricket scorecard?
Start with toss and innings scores (e.g., 250/10 in 50 ovs means 250 runs, 10 wkts). Check fall of wickets, partnerships, and bowling figures (wickets/runs overs). Tools like Cricbuzz simplify it!
Who holds the edge in T20Is between Zimbabwe and Ireland?
It’s neck-and-neck (11-11), but Ireland’s powerplay control (avg 45 runs) gives them a slight tactical nod in recent 2025 games .
What are the key 2025 highlights in this rivalry?
Ireland’s 63-run Test win in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe’s 2-1 ODI series triumph, featuring Bennett’s record 169 โ a year of spin vs pace drama .
How has the rivalry evolved since 2019?
From drawn Tests to Ireland’s dominance (2 Test wins), it’s grown fiercer with more bilaterals, boosting rankings per ICC reports.
Where to find live Zimbabwe vs Ireland matches?
Stream on ESPNcricinfo or apps like Cricbuzz for ball-by-ball coverage.
