Ireland opener Paul Stirling smashed a whirlwin 115 from 75 balls – his maiden T20I century – to help hosts Ireland overcome Zimbabwe by 40 runs at Bready and take a 2-1 series lead on Wednesday (September 1). The country’s most prolific opener, who became only the second Ireland batsman after Kevin O'Brien to reach three figures in a T20 international, struck eight fours and eight sixes to set up his side’s total of 178/2 after batting first.
Hosts paceman Mark Adair then took 3/11, while Josh Little, Ben White and Shane Getkate picked up two wickets apiece as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 138 in reply. Put in to bat, Ireland lost O’Brien cheaply, miscuing Luke Jongwe to mid-off in the powerplay before Stirling and skipper Andy Balbirnie put together a partnership of 77.
Ryan Burl (1/30) finally broke the stand, having Balbirnie caught in the deep for 31, but Getkate joined Stirling in a savage assault on Zimbabwe's bowlers during the death overs.
Watch the highlights of Stirling's superb century here...
#PaulStirling became the second #Irishman to score a in T20Is with his match-winning knock against #Zimbabwe yesterday!
Watch full highlights from this #IREvZIM match on #FanCode https://t.co/6jGBVCAqmw#CricketOnFanCode #IREvZIMonFanCode @cricketireland @ZimCricketv pic.twitter.com/tfxWAv9pqQ
— FanCode (@FanCode) September 2, 2021
The pair accumulated 69 from the last 27 balls, with Stirling smashing Tendai Chatara for three sixes in the penultimate over – and the 179-run target always looked beyond Zimbabwe, who lost wickets regularly and failed to build any partnerships of note.
Most runs in men's T20I cricket:
1 Virat Kohli: 3,159 runs
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6 Eoin Morgan: 2,360 runs
7 Paul Stirling: 2,343 runs
8 Shoaib Malik: 2,335 runs
9 David Warner: 2,265 runsBefore today, Stirlo was in ninth position #IREvZIM #BackingGreen [?] pic.twitter.com/OGPOSOpMQj
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) September 1, 2021
Captain Craig Ervine was the only batsman who threatened to get Zimbabwe close, hitting 33 from 18 but, after he was bowled by Getkate, only Burl (26 from 23) held up Ireland’s march towards victory and a series lead.
The home side can clinch a series success in the fourth T20I, which takes place at the same venue on Thursday (September 2).
