Lady Chevrons lose ODI series to Ireland

ZIMBABWE Cricket women’s national team, the Lady Chevrons were handed a 2-0 One Day International (ODI) series defeat by Ireland after the latter won the decider by a hefty 81 runs at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Going into yesterday’s encounter, a win for the Lady Chevrons would have seen them level the series and share the trophy after the second match was a tie, however, Ireland proved too strong with a commanding display.

Ireland won the first match by 10 wickets and sealed the series yesterday.

After winning the toss and electing to field first in their crunch encounter, the Lady Chevrons put up a good bowling performance as they bowled out Ireland for just 180 runs in 48,1 overs before they went on to crumble with the bat.

Zimbabwe was bowled out for just 99 runs in 50,5 overs to lose the series on home soil. The 99 runs which the Lady Chevrons scored is now their fourth-lowest score in their ODI history. Their lowest is 48 runs which came against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in 2021. Zimbabwe made one change to the team that played in the second ODI with Mitchell Mavunga coming in for Francesca Chipare.

It was Lindokuhle Mabhera – in just her second match for Zimbabwe – who was one of the standout bowlers for the Lady Chevrons alongside Loreen Tshuma and Precious Marange. Tshuma finished with figures of 2/29 in her nine-over spell while the 20-year-old Mabhera had figures of 2/31. The experienced Marange also claimed two scalps for 35 runs in her 10 overs spell.

Ireland’s top run scorer was Orla Prendergast with 41 runs off 67 balls while opening batter Leah Pail fell for 27 runs from 46 balls.

The Lady Chevrons failed to get going with the bat and found themselves on 6/1 in 3, 4 overs. They would later on crumble to 77/6 just after the halfway mark before going on to be bowled out for just 99 runs. Ndiraya top scored for Zimbabwe with 25 runs off 35 balls while the skipper Mary-Anne Musonda made 23 runs from 52 balls. Leading Ireland’s bowling unit was Cara Murray who finished with career-best figures of 6/31 in 6,5 overs while Ava Canning, Arlene Kelly, and Laura Delany picked up one wicket each.

Next up is the T20I series where the two teams will face off in five matches all to be played at Harare Sports Club. The five matches are pencilled for January 26, 28 and 30 and February 1 and 2. The last two matches will be played under floodlights with matches starting at 18.30pm. – @brandon_malvin