Regardless of how good the actual 100 was, it's fantastic for Ireland to have a 100 hitter. You can't expect perfection from Semi Pros.Thought it was a pretty fortunate knock really, lucky to get escape some seriously decent LBW shouts and anything bowled close to him and he looked pretty darn poor. His saving grace is that his a decent hitter against anything that is full and wide and the Zimbabweans were more than welcome to dish such dross up. Tis a shame because they were good in patches, Ireland now have a more than competitive total.
I agree, nothing better than seeing an Australian (whose only inclination of Ireland before coming there was of 'Guinness') score a century.You know - seeing the absolute ecstatic face of guys like Bray after making a century make watching the WC worth it.
Why not? His a former NSW cricketer who from all accounts was actually pretty decent (scored 69 on debut) but due to his girlfriend returning back home (to Ireland) to care for her sick father and a few other factors, he decided to up sticks and go. His not from the back streets of Dublin and has not just picked up a cricket bat, his faced far better bowling at youth level in Australia then he did today.Regardless of how good the actual 100 was, it's fantastic for Ireland to have a 100 hitter. You can't expect perfection from Semi Pros.
I confess to knowing **** all about his circumstance, so I'll take your word for it.Why not? His a former NSW cricketer who from all accounts was actually pretty decent (scored 69 on debut) but due to his girlfriend returning back home (to Ireland) to care for her sick father and a few other factors, he decided to up sticks and go. His not from the back streets of Dublin and has not just picked up a cricket bat, his faced far better bowling at youth level in Australia then he did today.
From a neutral's perspective anyway.It better bloody well not get interesting!
He is still an amateur now and doesn't exactly get paid a living wage playing cricket for Ireland. So only reason he does it, in his thirties, is because he loves the game. I for one am not so cynical that I can't appreciate that.I agree, nothing better than seeing an Australian (whose only inclination of Ireland before coming there was of 'Guinness') score a century.
Apalling tbh.Does anyone know how much were Ireland actually paying at the start of the match, just out of interest? I was going to place a bet on them before the match started but I fell asleep and missed the majority of the first innings - then they were paying even money so I didn't bother (especially since I expected them to score a few more runs than they actually did..).
Ireland were paying around 2.50 at the start, but after the loss of Porterfield in the first over (and being sent in on a lively wicket, I guess) that immediately jumped up to 3.60. They got up to 3.40 again during Zimbabwe's innings when Sibanda was dominating. Just got up to 3.50 again now, in fact.Does anyone know how much were Ireland actually paying at the start of the match, just out of interest? I was going to place a bet on them before the match started but I fell asleep and missed the majority of the first innings - then they were paying even money so I didn't bother (especially since I expected them to score a few more runs than they actually did..).
Haha, I didn't fall asleep during the match or anything - I fell asleep in the agonising wait for it to start.Apalling tbh.
$4.33 now. Ridiculously generous now IMO.Ireland were paying around 2.50 at the start, but after the loss of Porterfield in the first over (and being sent in on a lively wicket, I guess) that immediately jumped up to 3.60. They got up to 3.40 again during Zimbabwe's innings when Sibanda was dominating. Just got up to 3.50 again now, in fact.
That's extremely generous IMO. Zimbabwe are favourites now, but not by a huge margin. A wicket or two and it's Ireland's game.