What a way for Andy Balbirnie to get off the mark, stroking a textbook drive to the cover boundary. He made his maiden ODI fifty against South Africa in the last match. We're back to four an over at last, the first time since the 11th over.

Image source, AFP

Play is back under way in Auckland after a rain break with Pakistan resuming on 197-5 in the 41st over. Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease, with Kyle Abbott the bowler.

The match has been reduced to 47 overs per side, with a 10-minute interval.

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Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"He just sliced underneath it and it went horribly into the air where mid-off took a good catch. It was a panicky shot because he knew he was getting behind the rate. Ireland shouldn't panic too much though because this pitch is not like mainland England, it's harder to score and 260 could be a decent total."

Gone this time though and it's the skipper Porterfield. Conscious of the slow scoring rate perhaps, he backs away and skews the innocuous looking slow left-armer Williams to mid off where Masakadza's large hands gleefully clutch the opportunity.

Scorecard

Ireland 79-1 (20 overs)

Batsmen: Porterfield 26*, Joyce 37*

Fall of wickets: 16-1 (Stirling 10)

Bowling figures: Panyangara 6-0-26-1, Chatara 5-0-18-0, Mupariwa 5-0-19-0, Raza 3-0-12-0, Williams 1-0-4-0

Zimbabwe won toss

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A reprieve for Joyce. A big top-edged pull and bowler Mupariwa raced after it. He made excellent ground, and was at short mid-wicket by the time the ball fell from the sky, but having done the hard yards he spilled the catch and slumped to the turf like a disconsolate felled pine tree. Two runs to Joyce to compound the misery.

Alan Lewis
Ex-Ireland captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The biggest thing at this stage in the innings is having wickets in hand. Ireland will be pleased so far."

Sean Williams is the new bowler, and a candidate for shortest run-up of the tournament, with four steps only required for his slow left-armers. He's taken 26 wickets from his 74 matches, with a best of 3-23, but it's not the most threatening of starts, Porterfield helping himself to a brace of twos on either side of the wicket.

Now then, over at Eden Park the weather has relented to an extent. They are going to start again in 15 minutes and the match has been reduced to 47 overs per side.

Joyce finds the ropes this time, clipping Mupariwa down the ground to record the fifty partnership, the run-rate slowly climbing towards four an over.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

"Horribly, mizzly afternoon in Auckland now. Eden Park might have good drainage, but the wet stuff needs to stop falling before we can play. The covers are starting to come off, though. The break does provide opportunity for a fascinating chat with Geoffrey Boycott. Best England batsman he saw? Ted Dexter. Fastest bowler he faced? Michael Holding."

Sikander Raza does not leave much time for deliberation with his bustling off-spinner from around the wicket. He's sending it down in the mid 70s km/h. Two more for Joyce as he comes down the pitch but the boundaries are not flowing yet.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"In all ODIs Ireland have won 18 and lost 24 of 48 times they have batted first and they have won 25 and lost 18 of 45 times they have batted second."

These teams have met on five occasions, Zimbabwe winning three, Ireland one and there was a memorable tie in the 2007 World Cup, Ireland's first appearance, when both sides made 221. The energetic Tawanda Mupariwa maintains a steady line, Joyce picking up two with a slightly miscued pull.

Image source, Getty Images

A steady start from Ireland at the Bellerive Oval, just the five boundaries in the opening 15 overs, with left-handers Porterfield and Joyce building a solid partnership.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's how it stands in Pool B at the start of the day's fixtures. South Africa will be through with a victory today and and an Ireland win would put them in a superb position. Much to play for.

I knew it was going to be one of those days when the lunchbox fell over and my blueberries spewed across the carpet, then the taxi failed to arrive. Well it looks as if we could be in for a Duckworth-Lewis match at Eden Park so for the moment, while the rain continues there, we are going to turn out attentions to the Ireland-Zimbabwe game from Hobart, where it is overcast and a little breezy but at the moment dry, with the radar clear of rain.

Ireland are 41-1 after 10 overs in their Pool B clash with Zimbabwe in Hobart.

Having seen Paul Stirling fall for 10 in the third over, captain William Porterfield has moved to 16 not out and Ed Joyce 13.

A win for Ireland will take them one step closer to reaching the quarter-finals.

Click on the 'Live Coverage' tab for ball-by-ball TMS commentary.

Scorecard

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa chose to field first because of this weather. They want to know how to judge it if it comes down to Duckworth-Lewis."

We're coming off again. Another squally shower. This is not what the doctor ordered. That's a fancy gadget they have for the first cover to protect the wicket. Rolled down on a couple of carpet style grips on either side, very slick. The wind has picked up again, it looks distinctly autumnal.