Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE first T20I series between Zimbabwe and Ireland was abandoned yesterday after the rains prevented the completion of the match at Harare Sports Club.
From the onset, there was doubt the match would take place as chances of rain looked high.
The match was initially scheduled to start at 1.30PM, before the heavens opened up in the capital, forcing the game to be delayed by more than two hours.
When the rains subsided and the skies cleared to pave the way for play, the match was reduced to nine overs per side.
Ireland won the toss, chose to field and made light work of Zimbabwe, who could only muster 77 runs for five during their allotted nine overs.
Ryan Burl top-scored for Zimbabwe with 36 runs off 18 balls.
Tony Manyonga (10) and Wesley Madhevere (11) were the only other Chevrons batters to reach double digits.
Opener Brian Bennett failed to replicate his ODI form and lost his wicket after making on-ly eight runs.
He was caught by Harry Tector off a Craig Young delivery after trying to up the ante and clear the field.
Young claimed back-to-back wickets with the dismissal of Zimbabwean skipper Sikandar Raza for a one-ball duck.
Madhevere and Tashinga Musekiwa were unbeaten, scoring 11 runs off nine balls and 10 runs off five balls, respectively.
The duo piled on 12 runs off seven balls for their sixth-wicket stand, one of three key partnerships for Zimbabwe.
The fourth-wicket partnership between Madhevere and Burl, 41 runs off 21 balls, turned out to be the backbone of Zimbabwe’s innings.
Madhevere and Manyonga put up 13 runs off nine for the fifth wicket.
Young and Josh Little turned out to be the pick of the Ireland bowlers as the duo took two wickets each, while Hume finished with just one wicket.
As Zimbabwe concluded their innings after putting up 77 runs for five wickets, the rains resumed, prompting the officials to call off the match.
Zimbabwe had set Ireland a total of 78 runs to win in nine overs.
Bongani Ndlovu