Ireland Beat Zimbabwe To Level ODI Series
Ireland beat by 46 runs in a One Day International (ODI) match played at Harare Sports Club on Saturday, to level the series 1-1.
Having won the first ODI in dramatic fashion at the same venue three days ago, Zimbabwe won the toss and stand-in captain Sikandar Raza elected to bow first.
The Chevrons didn’t start well, as scrappy bowling allowed the Irish openers Paul Stirling and Stephen Doheny to race to 47 without loss at the end of the powerplay.
Ireland posted a respectable 294/7 in their allotted 50 overs with Doheny top-scoring with a well-played 84 off 111 deliveries.
Needing 295 to win, Zimbabwe got off to the worst possible start as Tadiwa Marurami was trapped by Joshua Brian Little for a duck in the 3rd over.
After 7 overs, Zimbabwe were 20-1.
Innocent Kaia and Chamu Chibhabha revived the Zimbabwe innings, before the latter was caught by Graham Hume off the bowling off Andy McBrine for 40 in the 30th over.
Kaia brought up his well-played 50 off 66 deliveries shortly after, before he was dismissed by Josh Litte.
Crowd favorite Raza was next at the crease and scored 21 before he was dismissed by Mark Adair and left the Chevrons at 140-4, needing 155 from the last 20 overs.
It got more complicated for Dave Houghton’s men when Gary Balance was caught by Little off the bowling of Hume for 52 as Zimbabwe crumbled and needed 53 in the last 21 balls.
They fell short and were bowled out for 248 in the 47th over as Ireland levelled the 3-match series 1-1.
