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| Paul Stirling acknowledges the applause while walking back after an unbeaten 115 © Getty Images/Sportsfile |
Match Overview:
Paul Stirling's maiden T20I hundred sets up to Ireland thumping 40-run victory over Zimbabwe and go up 2-1 lead in the third T20I.
Match Stats:
- Ireland's 40-run win was their sixth largest victory by terms of runs in T20 internationals.
- Paul Stirling became the second Ireland batsman to score a hundred in T20 internationals after Kevin O'Brien.
- Paul Stirling's unbeaten 115 was the second highest score for Ireland in T20 international after Kevin O'Brien's 124 and the highest-score by an Ireland batsman against Zimbabwe in T20Is, surpassing the his own record of unbeaten 83 at same venue in 2019.
- Paul Stirling hammered a 70-ball slowest century in T20 international cricket history, surpassing the previous record of 69-ball hundred held by Martin Guptill against South Africa at East London in 2012.
- Ireland's 178 was their highest score against Zimbabwe in T20 internationals, previous highest was 171 at same venue in 2019.
- Zimbabwe's 138 was their third lowest score against Ireland in T20 internationals.
- 77 : Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie set a record second-wicket partnership for Ireland against Zimbabwe in T20 international, previously held by the unbeaten 76-run stand between these same pair at same venue in 2019 and Ireland's seventh highest second-wicket stand in T20Is.
- 69* : Paul Stirling and Shane Getkate set a record third-wicket partnership for Ireland against Zimbabwe in T20 international, previously held by the 52-run stand between Kevin O'Brien and George Dockrell at Dublin in the second T20I and Ireland's fourth highest third-wicket stand in T20Is.
In-Depth Match Highlights:
Ireland scored 178-2 in 20 overs with top scorer by Paul Stirling 115 not out - which was his 1st T20I hundred.
Andy Balbirnie scored 31 off 24-balls including 3-fours & a six and Shane Getkate 19 not out.
Zimbabwe best bowler by Ryan Burl and Luke Jongwe both took one-wickets.
Zimbabwe scored 138 for all-out in 18.2 overs with top scorer by Craig Ervine hammered a 33 off 18-balls including 3-sixes & 2-sixes with strike rate of 183.33, Ryan Burl 26, Dian Myers 14 and Tadiwanashe Marumani 14.
Ireland best bowler by Mark Adair picked up 3-wickets for 11-runs in 3-overs, Josh Little, Ben White and Shane Getkate each took 2-wickets.
Paul Stirling named Player of the match for his scintillating batting performance to smashed a career-best unbeaten 115-runs knocked off facing 75-balls including 8-sixes and 8-fours with strike rate of 153.33.
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