Online Reporter
DUBLIN. —Ireland completed a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe in the T20I series, with a comfortable 51-run win at the Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin.
Unlike the previous games, Gaby Lewis’ services with the bat were not required as Amy Hunter notched up 59 which spearheaded the host’s innings to take them to 180 for 4.
In reply, Sophie MacMahon and Ava Canning picked up a brace to restrict Zimbabwe to 129 for 7.
Having opted to bat, Ireland’s openers gave them the exact start they needed.
Hunter and Rebecca Stokell (45) powered 52 runs in the PowerPlay to get the hosts off to a decent start.
Both the batters were positive in their approach and the runs were flowing quickly.
The openers put up a 96-run stand and Hunter too moved past 50 in her innings laden with nine fours and a six.
But she fell against the run of play offering a return catch to Beloved Biza.
Stokell fell couple of overs later in a run-out as Zimbabwe began to peg the hosts back.
Biza returned to scalp Coulter Reilly but Lousie Little and Laura Delaney steadied the ship to get the Irish back on track.
And it was Orla Prendergast who added the final touches with a 24 off 9 which powered Ireland to the 180-run mark.
In the chase, Zimbabwe lost both their openers in the PowerPlay to MacMahon and Canning.
But Biza, who was having a good game, and captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano steadied the ship in a 40-run stand.
But wickets continued to tumble after that through some sloppy running. Eventually, Mugeri-Tiripano was caught by Prendergast off Ava Canning while MacMahon picked up the well set Modester Mupachikwa to give Ireland another simple win.
Brief Scores:
Ireland 180/4 in 20 overs (Amy Hunter 59, Rebecca Stokell 45; Beloved Biza 2-21) beat Zimbabwe 129/7 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 39, Beloved Biza 25; Ava Canning 2-18, Sophie MacMahon 2-21) by 51 runs.— Cricbuzz
Mathew Masinge