THE Ireland women cricket team nosed ahead in the T20I series after they beat the hosts Zimbabwe by 57 runs in the first match at Harare Sports Club yesterday.Amy Hunters scored an unbeaten 101 to help Ireland post a huge total which enabled them to take the first of the three match series.
The Zimbabwe chase never got going with captain Mary-Anne Musonda offering the only resistance contributing 46 runs to the cause.After losing 2-0 in the ODI series, Zimbabwe are hoping to get their revenge in the shorter format.
Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first.Openers Hunter and Gaby Lewis set a solid foundation for the team as they put together a 138-run stand.
However, Lewis was the first wicket to go for 56 runs from 39 balls after she was trapped leg before wicket by Nyasha Gwanzura in the 16th over.Orla Prendergast contributed 13 runs from nine balls and became 17-year-old debutant Kudzai Chigora’s first international wicked as she castled the batter with the score on 166.
Chigora went on to clean bowl Rebecca Stokell as well for 5 runs before the visitors posted a mammoth 191 score for the loss of three wickets.The teenage bowler was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers finishing with figures of 2 for 46 in the allotted four overs. Musonda and Kellies Ndhlovu tried to give the hosts a positive start in the run chase but could only manage 38 runs before the latter was bowled out by Alana Dalzell for 20 in the sixth over.
Next to go was Pellagia Mujaji again off the bowling of Dalzell after contributing six runs.Chiedza Dhururu (22) and Musonda teamed up for a 46-run third wicked partnership and the latter was caught by Arlene Kelly of the bowling of Georgina Dempsey just four runs short of a half century with 96 runs on the board.
And with the required runrate galloping, it became increasingly difficult for Zimbabwe to pull off a victory and in the end posted a 134 for 5 total to hand the visitors the victory.Dalzell was the best bowler for Ireland taking two wickets for 20 runs.The two teams clash in the second T20I tomorrow afternoon.
Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Under-19 men's team play their final group match against Namibia at the World Cup currently underway in South Africa today.Coach Prosper Utseya says they are not underrating minnows Namibia after losing their first two matches against Sri Lanka and Australia.
- Ireland take lead in T20I series
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“We are not taking any games for granted. I believe every team at the World Cup has prepared intensely for the competition. Our approach against Namibia will be as intense as that against any other team. Our boys are in a good space to tackle the World Cup,” he said.
