HARARE: Former English drummer Gary Ballance contributed 30 runs on his international debut for Zimbabwe as they beat Ireland by five wickets on Thursday to claim the Twenty20 International opener of their three-game series.
Ballance’s runs came on 29 balls as Zimbabwe scored 118-5 as they initially had a heavy time chasing Ireland’s modest tally of 114 but in the end won with two overs to save at Harare Sports Club.
The 33-year-old left-handed batsman last month signed a two-year contract to play domestic and international cricket in his birth country following his release from the county cricket side. yorkshire.
Ballance played 23 Tests for England between 2014 and 2017, scoring 1,498 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 37.45. He also appeared in 16 one-day internationals, but was allowed to change international allegiance.
The Harare-born player spent the last year on the sidelines while dealing with mental health issues after admitting to using racist language against the former Yorkshire team-mate. Azem Rafiq.
Yorkshire, who released Ballance two years earlier from his contract according to the player’s wishes, have made sweeping changes following Rafiq’s explosive allegations of institutional racism at the club. Ballance apologized to Rafiq in person.
Ballance’s runs came on 29 balls as Zimbabwe scored 118-5 as they initially had a heavy time chasing Ireland’s modest tally of 114 but in the end won with two overs to save at Harare Sports Club.
The 33-year-old left-handed batsman last month signed a two-year contract to play domestic and international cricket in his birth country following his release from the county cricket side. yorkshire.
Ballance played 23 Tests for England between 2014 and 2017, scoring 1,498 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 37.45. He also appeared in 16 one-day internationals, but was allowed to change international allegiance.
The Harare-born player spent the last year on the sidelines while dealing with mental health issues after admitting to using racist language against the former Yorkshire team-mate. Azem Rafiq.
Yorkshire, who released Ballance two years earlier from his contract according to the player’s wishes, have made sweeping changes following Rafiq’s explosive allegations of institutional racism at the club. Ballance apologized to Rafiq in person.
