Skipper Gaby Lewis’ tactical acumen and dynamic leadership gave Ireland a dominant whitewash (3-0) in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
The caravan now moves on to the two-match ODI series in Belfast. The home side continued their power-packed show against Zimbabwe, while the visitors failed to bounce back and show their potential in the ODI opener.
Fifties from Forbes, Lewis and Prendergast powers Ireland to 288/9
The visiting skipper, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, won the toss and opted to bowl first in the 1st ODI. The move backfired as the Irish openers, Sarah Forbes and skipper Gaby Lewis, capitalised on the lack of discipline, and the duo stitched a massive 116-run opening stand. The pair scored at a rate of over five runs an over. Lindokuhle Mabhero got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Gaby Lewis (51 off 61 balls), to provide the much-needed first breakthrough for Zimbabwe. The Irish skipper completed her 14th ODI half-century before getting dismissed.
The home side looked poised to notch up a total in excess of 300, courtesy of substantial partnerships for the 2nd wicket between the wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter and Sarah Forbes, worth 40 runs, taking them past the 150-run mark. It was followed by another crucial 38-run partnership for the 3rd wicket between Orla Prendergast and Amy Hunter, and almost a run-a-ball 59-run partnership for the 4th wicket between Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany took them past the 250-run mark.
However, a spirited fightback from the Zimbabwean bowlers saw them keep the home side to 288/9 in their quota of 50 overs, which also happened to be Ireland’s highest total in the ODI format on the home side. Ireland just managed 33 runs for the loss of five wickets in their last seven overs.
Sarah Forbes (54 off 78 balls), Orla Prendergast (50 off 53 balls), and Amy Hunter (43 off 38 balls) became the youngest Irish players to complete 1,000 ODI runs, and Laura Delany (34 off 34 balls) was the top performer with the bat for Ireland. Kelis Ndhlovu (9-0-50-3), Loren Tshuma (6-0-37-2), Tendai Makusha (9-0-47-2), and Kudzai Chigora (10-0-53-1) were the top performers with the ball for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe fails to build on starts as clinical Ireland bag ODI series opener
Disciplined bowling effort from the Irish new-ball bowlers pushed the Zimbabwean batters on the back foot, losing their top three inside the powerplay, while managing just 34 runs in that phase. Beloved Biza joined skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at the crease, and the duo stitched a much-needed 68-run partnership for the 4th wicket to take them past the 100-run mark.
Lara McBride broke the stand, by sending Beloved Biza (27 off 38 balls) back to the pavilion in the 22nd over of the run chase to provide the crucial 4th breakthrough for Ireland. Post the departure of Belvod Biza, the Zimbabwean innings failed to gather momentum as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. As a result, they were bundled out for 191, with 11 balls to spare, falling 97 runs short of the target.
The duo of Nomvelo Sibanda and Runyararo Pasipanodaya displayed some resistance courtesy of a 35-run partnership for the 8th wicket. However, it wasn’t enough to even get them closer to the target. Skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (48 off 65 balls), Runyararo Pasipanodaya (32* off 71 balls), and Kelis Ndhlovu (21 off 34 balls) chipped in with crucial contributions with the bat for Zimbabwe.
Orla Prendergast (10-4-20-2), Jane Maguire (7.1-0-25-2), Arlene Kelly (6-0-17-2), Lara McBride (7-0-25-2), and Cara Murray (9-0-53-2) all of them picked up a couple of wickets each, sharing the exploits equally amongst them.
Orla Prendergast was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational all-round show, scoring a crucial half-century (50 off 53 balls) with the bat and returning with exceptional match figures (10-4-20-2) with the ball for her side, playing a vital role as Ireland took a 1-0 series lead.
