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Will Porterfield: Zimbabwe match "very big" for Ireland

Ireland captain Will Porterfield admits that his side's clash with Zimbabwe is now "very big" following their 201-run defeat to South Africa at the Cricket World Cup.

Will Porterfield has admitted that Ireland's match against Zimbabwe at the Cricket World Cup is "very big" following their defeat to South Africa earlier.

Having beaten the West Indies and the UAE in their first two fixtures at the tournament, Ireland suffered their first defeat when they were beaten by 201 runs in Canberra this morning, leaving them just above Zimbabwe in the Pool B standings.

The captain told BBC Sport: "The game against Zimbabwe now is very big for us. We'll be looking to go down [to Hobart] and pick up two points.

"[South Africa] played very well. We had one early breakthrough and wanted more but then it was hard for us. You want to be taking your chances but that's part of cricket.

"All credit to the lower order for the way that they stuck at it. And with the partnership [of 81] between Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie, there were still a few good things in there."

Ireland face Zimbabwe, who have played a match more, on Sunday.

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South Africa's spin bowler Imran Tahir celebrates his wicket of West Indies batsman Darren Sammy (L) during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 27, 2015
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