The home side, Ireland, whitewashed Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series. They continued their dominance by winning the first game of the two-match ODI series by a massive margin of 97 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Both sides made a few changes to their line-up with the series on the line for both of them. For Ireland, Louise Little, Ava Canning, and Alana Dalzell replaced Coulter Reilly, Jane Maguire, and Arlene Kelly in the starting 11 for the home side. For the visitors, Lindokuhle Mabhero, Michelle Mavunga, and Francisca Chipare replaced Nyasha Gwanzura, Nomvelo Sibanda, and Tendai Makusha.
Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Modester Mupachikwa lead a resilient show
Things didn’t go according to plan for the visitors after skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano made the bold call of opting to bat first on winning the toss in a crucial series decider at Belfast. Alana Dalzell cleaned up Kelis Ndhlovu in the 2nd over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for Ireland.
Loreen Tshuma joined the opening batter, Chiedza Dhururu, at the crease, and the pair tried their best to lead a recovery with a fighting 16-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Another crucial 21-run partnership for the 3rd wicket between skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Chiezda Dhururu took them closer to the 50-run mark. Ava Canning broke the stand, by sending the wicket-keeper batter Chiedza Dhururu (12 off 41 balls) back to the pavilion to provide the 3rd breakthrough for her side.
The Gaby Lewis-led side capitalised on the opening by sending one of their most promising all-rounders, Beloved Biza, back to the pavilion in the 17th over of the innings, reducing the visitors to 54/4. With Zimbabwe struggling for momentum, skipper Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano partnered with Modester Mupachikwa and weathered the storm, giving some sort of rhythm to their side, with a much-needed 94-run partnership for the 5th wicket, taking them closer to the 150-run mark.
Cara Murray broke the stand, by getting the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (56 off 92 balls) in the 42nd over of the innings, to provide the crucial 5th breakthrough for Ireland. Zimbabwe were eventually bundled out for 178, with five balls to spare. Modester Mupachikwa (45 off 86 balls), Nyasha Gwanzura (14 off 25 balls), and Runyararo Pasipanodaya (11 off 15 balls) were the only other batters to enter the double digits with the bat for Zimbabwe.
Alana Dalzell (10-0-36-4), Orla Prendergast (8-3-13-0) and Lara McBride (7.1-0-22-3) were the standout performers with the ball for Ireland, while Cara Murray (8-1-29-1) and Ava Canning (8-2-29-1) played a crucial role with the ball for their side.
Orla Prendergast’s 68* guided Ireland to a comprehensive ODI series win
Chasing a tricky total of 179, Ireland lost the wicket of their opening batter, Sarah Forbes, on the 3rd ball of the run chase to provide the first breakthrough for Zimbabwe, courtesy of Kudzai Chigora. Substantial partnerships of 51 runs for the 2nd wicket between the wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter and skipper Gaby Lewis, followed by a 49-run partnership for the 3rd wicket between Orla Prendergast and skipper Gaby Lewis, and a vital 31-run stand between former skipper Laura Delany and Orla Prendergast ensured the home side stayed ahead in the run chase.
The duo of Ava Canning and Orla Prendergast took them over the line with an unbeaten 34-run partnership for the 7th wicket to seal the game and the series by 4 wickets and 67 balls to spare. However, the Zimbabwean bowlers made the Irish batters work hard and earn their runs in the chase.
Orla Prendergast stayed unbeaten 67* (72 balls), notching up her 5th ODI half-century to guide her side over the line in the run chase. Skipper Gaby Lewis (44 off 59 balls), Laura Delany (18 off 31 balls), Amy Hunter (14 off 26 balls), and Ava Canning (14 off 19 balls) chipped in with crucial contributions with the bat for their side. Loreen Tshuma (10-1-35-4), Francisca Chipare (8-0-44-1), and Kudzai Chigora (7-0-30-1) were the stars with the ball for Zimbabwe. Michelle Mavunga (6-0-22-0) kept things tight from one end in her spell.
Orla Prendergast was awarded the Player of the Match for scoring a crucial, unbeaten half-century for her side, playing a crucial role in helping Ireland seal their 2nd highest successful run chase on home soil in the ODI format. Orla Prendergast was also awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 117 runs with the bat and picking up a couple of wickets with the ball for her side in the couple of innings in the series.
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