Ireland vs Zimbabwe Cricket Timeline: Complete Head-to-Head Records, Stats & Key Moments (2007–2026)
The Ireland cricket team vs zimbabwe national cricket team timeline spans nearly two decades, 45 international matches, three formats, and some of the most competitive cricket played between two associate-turned-Test nations. Ireland lead the overall head-to-head 21–18, with 1 tie and 5 no results. Ireland have won both Tests between the sides. The ODI record sits at 11–10 in Ireland’s favour. T20Is stand exactly level at 8–8. No format tells the same story- which is what makes this rivalry genuinely worth tracking.
Overall Head-to-Head Record
The Ireland cricket team vs zimbabwe national cricket team timeline covers 45 senior international matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Ireland hold the overall edge, but Zimbabwe’s consistent competitiveness- particularly on home soil- keeps the rivalry balanced.
| Format | Matches | Ireland Wins | Zimbabwe Wins | Tied | NR |
| Tests | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 25 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| T20Is | 18 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 45 | 21 | 18 | 1 | 5 |
Win percentage (excluding ties and NRs): Ireland 53.8% | Zimbabwe 46.2%
What the Numbers Don’t Show
The aggregate hides an important split. Ireland won 60% of matches on home soil. Zimbabwe won 46% of ODIs played at Harare against Ireland. In neutral venues- World Cup fixtures- the results have gone in Zimbabwe’s favour more often. These location-based patterns are more useful for understanding this fixture than the overall record alone.
Myth vs Reality
Most previews and historical summaries misread this rivalry in three consistent ways.
Myth 1: Ireland Dominate Zimbabwe Across All Formats
Zimbabwe hold a 6–5 ODI advantage at Harare Sports Club. T20Is are level at 8–8. Ireland’s superiority exists primarily in Test cricket (2–0) and in home white-ball conditions. Away from Ireland, Zimbabwe are competitive- they won the ODI series in Zimbabwe in both 2023 and 2025.
Myth 2: Zimbabwe Are a Declining Force in This Fixture
In their last five completed white-ball encounters against Ireland, Zimbabwe won three. They won the 2022 T20 World Cup fixture by 31 runs. Brian Bennett scored 169 in a single ODI innings in 2025. Zimbabwe’s batting depth and home conditions make them a different team in Harare compared to neutral venues.
Myth 3: The 2007 World Cup Tie “Made” Ireland
Ireland’s cricketing development predates 2007 significantly. The World Cup tie gave them global visibility. It did not manufacture their quality- it revealed it.
Batting Records
Ireland vs Zimbabwe batting records have been rewritten multiple times across both formats. The most significant came in February 2025 when Brian Bennett scored the highest individual innings ever recorded in this fixture.
Highest Individual Scores
| Record | Player | Score | Venue | Year |
| Highest ODI score | Brian Bennett (ZIM) | 169 (163) | Harare | 2025 |
| Highest T20I score | Paul Stirling (IRE) | 115* (75) | Bready | 2021 |
| Highest ODI team total (IRE) | Ireland | 331/8 | Hobart WC | 2015 |
| Highest ODI team total (ZIM) | Zimbabwe | 326 | Harare | 2025 |
| Highest T20I total (IRE) | Ireland | 178/2 | Bready | 2021 |
| Highest T20I total (ZIM) | Zimbabwe | 174/7 | Hobart WC | 2022 |
Most Runs in T20Is
Paul Stirling (Ireland) leads all T20I run-scorers in this fixture with 408 runs from 15 innings at an average of 37.09. No other batter from either side comes close in T20I volume.
Bowling Records
The bowling records tell a different story than the batting. Test cricket has produced the standout bowling performances in this fixture- not white-ball matches.
Best Bowling Figures
| Record | Player | Figures | Venue | Year |
| Best Test innings (ZIM) | Blessing Muzarabani | 7/58 | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| Best Test innings (IRE) | Matthew Humphreys | 6/57 | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| Best Test match (IRE) | Andy McBrine | 7/75 (3/37 + 4/38) | Belfast | 2024 |
| Most ODI wickets (IRE) | Tim Murtagh | 18 | Multiple | 2010–2021 |
| Most ODI wickets (ZIM) | Sean Williams | 13 | Multiple | 2010–2023 |
The Bulawayo Test Bowling Duel
The February 2025 Test in Bulawayo produced the most remarkable bowling contest in this fixture’s history. Muzarabani took 7/58 in Ireland’s first innings– the best figures by any Zimbabwe bowler in this match-up. Humphreys responded with 6/57 in Zimbabwe’s second innings– the best by any Ireland bowler. Both performances arrived in the same Test. Ireland still won by 63 runs.
Top Player of Match Winners
Individual performances that decided fixtures are the clearest measure of who has controlled this rivalry at key moments.
| Player | Team | Award | Match |
| Andy McBrine | Ireland | POTM (7/75) | Belfast Test, 2024 |
| Brian Bennett | Zimbabwe | POTM (169) | 1st ODI, Harare, 2025 |
| Paul Stirling | Ireland | POTM (115*) | 4th T20I, Bready, 2021 |
| Ryan Burl | Zimbabwe | POTM (5 wkts) | 1st T20I, Harare, 2023 |
Andy McBrine’s 7-wicket haul across both innings of the 2024 Belfast Test was the single most decisive individual performance in any match between these sides across all three formats.
Read More: Scotland National Cricket Team Vs England Cricket Team Timeline
Home vs Away Records
ODI Location Split
| Location | Matches | Ireland Wins | Zimbabwe Wins | NR/Tied |
| Ireland (home) | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe (home) | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Neutral venues | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Bready Cricket Club is Ireland’s strongest venue in this fixture– Ireland have won 6 of 7 matches there against Zimbabwe. Harare Sports Club is Zimbabwe’s strongest ground in this rivalry- they hold a 6–5 ODI advantage there.
Largest Victories
| Format | Winner | Margin | Venue | Year |
| ODI | Zimbabwe | 9 wickets | Harare | 2025 |
| ODI | Ireland | 7 wickets (D/L) | Harare | 2023 |
| T20I | Ireland | 64 runs | Bready | 2021 |
| T20I | Zimbabwe | 31 runs | Hobart WC | 2022 |
| Test | Ireland | 63 runs | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| Test | Ireland | 4 wickets | Belfast | 2024 |
Chronological Match Timeline
The complete ireland cricket team vs zimbabwe national cricket team timeline, sorted by date across all three eras.
Era 1- 2007 to 2015: Zimbabwe Leads
March 15, 2007- Kingston, Jamaica (WC ODI): Tied
Ireland’s first-ever World Cup match. Zimbabwe needed 1 run off the last ball. The last wicket fell attempting that run. Match tied. This remains the most dramatic result between these two nations.
September–October 2010- Harare (ODI Series): Zimbabwe won 2–1
First bilateral series. Zimbabwe won the first two matches by 2 wickets and 3 wickets. Ireland won the final ODI by 20 runs- the only bright spot in a difficult away campaign.
March 16, 2014- Sylhet, Bangladesh (T20 WC): Ireland won by 1 run
Ireland 164/7. Zimbabwe 163/5. The narrowest winning margin in the fixture’s T20I history. A single run that carried significant knockout-stage implications for Ireland.
March 7, 2015- Hobart, Australia (WC ODI): Ireland won by 5 runs
Ireland posted 331/8– their highest ODI total in this fixture. Zimbabwe scored 326 in response- their highest ODI total against Ireland. Brendan Taylor hit a century for Zimbabwe. Ireland won by 5 runs in a match that still stands as the highest-scoring ODI between these sides.
October 2015- Harare (ODI Series): Zimbabwe won 2–1
Zimbabwe won on home turf again, by 2 wickets and 5 wickets. Ireland claimed the final ODI by 2 wickets.
Series record 2007–2015: Zimbabwe 2, Ireland 0, 1 World Cup tie
Era 2- 2016 to 2020: Ireland Takes Control
July 2019- Bready and Belfast (ODI Series): Ireland won 3–0
Ireland’s most dominant bilateral sequence against Zimbabwe- three wins by 4 wickets, 5 runs, and 6 wickets. First time Ireland had swept Zimbabwe in a bilateral ODI series.
July 2019- Bready and Belfast (T20I Series): Split 1–1, 1 NR
One win each, one match abandoned. The white-ball picture in Ireland heavily favoured the home side.
Series record 2016–2020: Ireland 2, Zimbabwe 0, 1 split
Era 3- 2021 to 2026: The Most Contested Period
August–September 2021- Dublin and Bready (T20I Series): Ireland won 3–2
Five T20Is, three venues, four different results. Zimbabwe won the opener in Dublin by 3 runs. Ireland responded with wins of 7 wickets, 40 runs, and 64 runs- including Paul Stirling’s 115* off 75 balls at Bready, the highest T20I score in this fixture. Zimbabwe won the final match at Bready by 5 runs. Ireland won the series 3–2.
September 2021- Belfast (ODI): Zimbabwe won by 38 runs
Zimbabwe’s only away ODI win in Ireland in this era.
October 17, 2022- Hobart, T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe won by 31 runs
Zimbabwe posted 174/7. Ireland restricted to 143/9. Zimbabwe’s largest T20I victory margin in this fixture.
January 2023- Harare (T20I Series): Zimbabwe won 2–1
Ryan Burl took 5 wickets in the opener. Zimbabwe won matches 1 and 3.
January 2023- Harare (ODI Series): Split 1–1
Ireland and Zimbabwe shared the series.
December 2023- Harare (T20I Series): Ireland won 2–1
Ireland won after losing the opener by 1 wicket- the kind of series that perfectly illustrates how fine the margins are in this fixture.
December 2023- Harare (ODI Series): Ireland won 2–0 (1 NR)
Ireland’s first-ever ODI series win on Zimbabwean soil, according to ESPNcricinfo bilateral records.
July 25–28, 2024- Belfast (Only Test): Ireland won by 4 wickets
First-ever Test between these nations. Zimbabwe: 210 and 197. Ireland: 250 and 158/6. Andy McBrine’s 7/75 across both innings was the difference. Ireland chased 158 with 4 wickets remaining. Player of Match: Andy McBrine.
February 2025- Bulawayo (Only Test): Ireland won by 63 runs
Muzarabani took 7/58 in Ireland’s first innings. Humphreys replied with 6/57 in Zimbabwe’s second innings. Zimbabwe posted under 210 in three of their four Test innings across both Tests. Ireland won their second consecutive Test against Zimbabwe– on Zimbabwean soil.
February 14, 2025- Harare (1st ODI): Zimbabwe won by 49 runs
Brian Bennett scored 169 off 163 balls– the highest individual score in the fixture’s ODI history. Player of Match: Brian Bennett.
February 16, 2025- Harare (2nd ODI): Ireland won by 6 wickets
February 18, 2025- Harare (3rd ODI): Zimbabwe won by 9 wickets
Zimbabwe’s largest ODI win by wickets in this fixture. ODI series result: Zimbabwe 2–1.
February 17, 2026- Pallekele, Sri Lanka (T20 WC, Match 32): Abandoned- rain
Zimbabwe had already qualified for the Super Eights before this match. Ireland needed the result to survive. Rain denied that chance. Ireland eliminated. Zimbabwe advanced.
Series record 2021–2026: Ireland 4, Zimbabwe 3, 1 NR
Read More: India national cricket team vs Netherlands national cricket team timeline
Head-to-Head Progression Over Time
| Period | IRE Wins | ZIM Wins | Tied/NR |
| 2007–2010 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011–2015 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016–2020 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021–2026 | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| Total | 21 | 18 | 6 |
Ireland’s winning rate has improved in every successive era. From losing both series before 2015 to winning 14 of 28 completed results between 2021 and 2026- the direction is clear. The gap in T20Is remains closed. The Test gap is growing in Ireland’s favour.
Key Captains
| Era | Ireland Captain | Zimbabwe Captain |
| 2007–2011 | Trent Johnston | Elton Chigumbura |
| 2011–2019 | William Porterfield | Hamilton Masakadza |
| 2019–2023 | Andrew Balbirnie | Craig Ervine |
| 2023–2026 | Paul Stirling | Sikandar Raza / Craig Ervine |
Paul Stirling’s captaincy era has produced Ireland’s most statistically productive run against Zimbabwe- two Test wins, multiple bilateral series wins, and the fixture’s leading T20I run tally under his captaincy-era batting.
Last 5 Results
| Date | Format | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| Feb 17, 2026 | T20I (WC) | Pallekele | No result | — |
| Feb 18, 2025 | ODI | Harare | Zimbabwe | 9 wickets |
| Feb 16, 2025 | ODI | Harare | Ireland | 6 wickets |
| Feb 14, 2025 | ODI | Harare | Zimbabwe | 49 runs |
| Feb 2025 | Test | Bulawayo | Ireland | 63 runs |
T20 World Cup Meetings
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin |
| 2014 | Sylhet | Ireland | 1 run |
| 2022 | Hobart | Zimbabwe | 31 runs |
| 2026 | Pallekele | No result | — |
In three T20 World Cup encounters, each team has won one. The 2026 meeting- abandoned due to rain- never produced a result. Zimbabwe qualified from that group regardless, Ireland did not.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the overall head-to-head record in the Ireland cricket team vs zimbabwe national cricket team timeline?
A1. Ireland lead 21–18 from 45 matches across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. There has been 1 tie and 5 no results. Win percentage: Ireland 53.8%, Zimbabwe 46.2%.
Q2. When did Ireland and Zimbabwe first play international cricket?
A2. March 15, 2007, at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica- ICC World Cup Group D. The match ended in a tie, with Zimbabwe needing 1 run off the last ball.
Q3. How many Tests have Ireland and Zimbabwe played?
A3. Two Tests- Belfast in July 2024 and Bulawayo in February 2025. Ireland won both. Zimbabwe posted under 210 in three of the four Test innings across both matches.
Q4. What is the highest individual score between Ireland and Zimbabwe?
A4. Brian Bennett (Zimbabwe) scored 169 off 163 balls at Harare in February 2025- the highest score in ODI matches between these sides. Paul Stirling holds the T20I record with 115* off 75 balls at Bready in September 2021.
Q5. What is the T20I head-to-head record?
A5. 8–8 from 18 T20Is, with 2 no results. Perfectly level.
Q6. Who leads in ODI wickets between Ireland and Zimbabwe?
A6. Tim Murtagh (Ireland) leads with 18 ODI wickets. Sean Williams (Zimbabwe) has taken 13.
Q7. What happened at the T20 World Cup 2026 between Ireland and Zimbabwe?
A7. Their Group B match in Pallekele on February 17, 2026 was abandoned due to rain. Zimbabwe had already qualified for the Super Eights. Ireland were eliminated from the tournament.
Q8. Which team has the better home record in ODIs?
A8. Ireland won 60% of ODIs at home (6 wins from 10 matches). Zimbabwe hold a 6–5 ODI advantage at Harare Sports Club. Ireland’s home percentage is stronger.
Q9. Who leads T20I runs in Ireland vs Zimbabwe matches?
A9. Paul Stirling (Ireland)- 408 runs from 15 T20I innings at an average of 37.09.
Q10. What is the closest match in Ireland vs Zimbabwe cricket history?
A10. Two matches share that status: the 2007 World Cup tie in Kingston (Zimbabwe needed 1 off the last ball), and the 2014 T20 World Cup match in Sylhet where Ireland won by exactly 1 run.
Related Posts
India National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team Timeline: Complete History (1948–2026)
England Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline: Complete History, Records & Stats (1982–2026)
