Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
ZIMBABWE Under-19 all-rounder, Brandon Senzere was named the player of the series at the conclusion of the five-match Youth One Day International series against Ireland at Takashinga Cricket Club on Saturday.
The hosts clinched the series 4-1.
Batting at number five, Senzere was Zimbabwe’s highest run scorer with 156 runs in the opening four matches with knocks of 38, 36, 39 and 43 while he also claimed six wickets in those matches, including four for 43 in the second match.
Zimbabwe lost the final match of the series, and it was a match Senzere did not feature.
Meanwhile, Ireland grabbed a consolation four-wicket win with 16 balls to spare on the fifth and final YODI at Takashinga on Saturday.
The match was reduced to 45-overs aside due to rain and a changed Zimbabwe, who batted first, were on the back foot and scrambled a below par 203 all out in 42.1 overs, a target the tourists reached in 42.2 overs.
Opener Dhruv Patel was the innings topscorer with 79 runs in 90 balls while number four Takudzwa Makoni had the second highest contribution of 48 runs off 83 balls, followed by Michael Blignaut with a brisk 26 off 25 balls and extras coming fourth with 21 runs.
The only meaningful partnership was for the third wicket between Patel and Makoni who made 83 runs in 15 overs followed by 44 runs in nine overs between Blignaut and wicketkeeper Brandon Ndiweni.
In reply, Ireland cruised to victory at the back of an unbeaten 91 in 100 balls by Adam Leckey, batting at number three while number six Ethan Marshall weighed in with 41 from 57 balls.
Zimbabwe used seven bowlers with Kirby Madaramete claiming two wickets for 25 runs in seven overs while there was a wicket each for Marshall Mashava, Ambitious Muduma, Blignaut and Benny Zuze.
Ireland were using the tour, which was their first-ever visit of the country, as part of a crucial preparations ahead of the 2026 ICC Under-19s Men’s World Cup, which will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia at the beginning of nest year.
Speaking ahead of the tour, Ireland coach Peter Johnston had expected a tough challenge, and the margin of defeat proved him right.
“We have formed a great relationship with Zimbabwe over the years and had some great contests and series. I expect this tour will be no different. We will face a really talented and hungry Zimbabwe squad in all departments. On our part, we had a few selection headaches, but which is a great place to be in. There is still a long way to go to the ICC Under-19s Men’s World Cup next year and there will be plenty of opportunities between now and then for all of the players to keep raising the bar and pushing,” he said.
