Dropped catches, and a dropped shoe
Plays of the day from the Group B game between Ireland and Zimbabwe in Hobart
Brydon Coverdale in Hobart
07-Mar-2015
Tawanda Mupariwa's dropped catch proved to be a costly mistake for Zimbabwe • Getty Images
Drop of the day
There were so many to choose from on a miserable day in the field for Zimbabwe, but the really costly miss came when Ed Joyce top-edged a pull off Tawanda Mupariwa in the 20th over. The ball flew high out towards midwicket and the bowler was the man with the best chance of making it; Mupariwa did just that, but misjudged slightly and the ball ricocheted off his fingers and into the turf. Despite the distance he had to cover it was very catchable. It was also very costly; Joyce was on 34 at the time, and went on to make 112.
There were so many to choose from on a miserable day in the field for Zimbabwe, but the really costly miss came when Ed Joyce top-edged a pull off Tawanda Mupariwa in the 20th over. The ball flew high out towards midwicket and the bowler was the man with the best chance of making it; Mupariwa did just that, but misjudged slightly and the ball ricocheted off his fingers and into the turf. Despite the distance he had to cover it was very catchable. It was also very costly; Joyce was on 34 at the time, and went on to make 112.
Catch of the day
The contrast in the fielding of both sides was stark until a few nervous fumbles from Ireland later in the chase. It was particularly notable when William Porterfield clasped a much harder skied chance than the one that Mupariwa had put down. Porterfield had to run back from point, with the flight of the ball, and he judged it perfectly as the ball sailed down over his left shoulder and straight into his hands.
The contrast in the fielding of both sides was stark until a few nervous fumbles from Ireland later in the chase. It was particularly notable when William Porterfield clasped a much harder skied chance than the one that Mupariwa had put down. Porterfield had to run back from point, with the flight of the ball, and he judged it perfectly as the ball sailed down over his left shoulder and straight into his hands.
Anti-climax of the day
There were a few aborted cheers and mystified faces in the Bellerive Oval crowd when Tinashe Panyangara yorked Joyce in the 29th over. The stumps splayed, the bails lit up, but Joyce was going nowhere. The umpire had signalled it was a free hit for Joyce after Panyangara overstepped on the previous delivery, which, incidentally, Joyce had slashed over cover for four.
There were a few aborted cheers and mystified faces in the Bellerive Oval crowd when Tinashe Panyangara yorked Joyce in the 29th over. The stumps splayed, the bails lit up, but Joyce was going nowhere. The umpire had signalled it was a free hit for Joyce after Panyangara overstepped on the previous delivery, which, incidentally, Joyce had slashed over cover for four.
Sub of the day
Stuart Matsikenyeri must be sick of the sight of Ireland. At the 2007 World Cup, it was Matsikenyeri who failed to connect to the last-ball full toss that resulted in a tie between the two teams. In the 2015 World Cup, Matsikenyeri was not picked, but was on the field as 12th man when Kevin O'Brien drove uppishly to cover on 5. Matsikenyeri not only spilled a chance he should have taken, he also suffered the indignity of his shoe falling off in the process. At the end of the over Chamu Chibhabha came back on to the field and a disappointed Matsikenyeri jogged off.
Stuart Matsikenyeri must be sick of the sight of Ireland. At the 2007 World Cup, it was Matsikenyeri who failed to connect to the last-ball full toss that resulted in a tie between the two teams. In the 2015 World Cup, Matsikenyeri was not picked, but was on the field as 12th man when Kevin O'Brien drove uppishly to cover on 5. Matsikenyeri not only spilled a chance he should have taken, he also suffered the indignity of his shoe falling off in the process. At the end of the over Chamu Chibhabha came back on to the field and a disappointed Matsikenyeri jogged off.
Kick of the day
As the chase entered the tense final five overs, it looked like Regis Chakabva and Sean Williams might have misjudged a leg bye. Chakabva tried to work Alex Cusack to leg but the ball flew off his pad out to cover. Niall O'Brien ran in and soccered the ball at the stumps at the non-striker's end but missed by a large margin, allowing two important overthrows, or overkicks.
As the chase entered the tense final five overs, it looked like Regis Chakabva and Sean Williams might have misjudged a leg bye. Chakabva tried to work Alex Cusack to leg but the ball flew off his pad out to cover. Niall O'Brien ran in and soccered the ball at the stumps at the non-striker's end but missed by a large margin, allowing two important overthrows, or overkicks.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale