Zimbabwe defend low score against Ireland to take series lead

Zimbabwe pulled of what looked like an unlikely win with some defiant bowling to edge a low-scoring affair against Ireland by three runs in the first T20 on Friday.

Restricted to 117 for loss of seven wickets having been put in to bat, Zimbabwe found champions in their bowling attack particularly Ryan Burl(3 for 27), Luke Jongwe (two for 17) and Wellington Masakadza (two for 18) took hold of the match and ultimately helped the tourists to win.

The spinners in particular strangled Ireland in the middle overs while regularly taking wickets. It was so much so that only the openers Paul Stirling (24) and Kevin O’Brien (25) got to double figures along with Simi Singh who was unbeaten on 28.

It was that final over though, from Richard Ngarava, in which he had to defend five runs and conceded two. Two wickets fell in that over, one of them a run-out. Ngarava however displayed the champion bowling he can be capable of at times.

Earlier, the in-form Regis Chakabva was the only one to show dominion over the conditions, as he scored 47 off 28, falling just short of his maiden half century.

Of the conditions, Chakabva said, “It was two-paced so it was all about taking it ball by ball. Some balls stayed low and skiddy. I just figured it’s best to take it deep.

“Was fortunate to get a few boundaries. Credit to the bowlers. We thought we were 5-10 runs short, but the bowlers stuck to their guns.”

So difficult was it for the batters that the second highest score in the innings was an unbeaten 19 from Masakadza, his highest score in T20 internationals for Zimbabwe.

Openers Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani both fell early to Craig Young, who returned figures of of two for 15. Singh also impressed with the ball, faking two for 22.

The second of the five match series is on Sunday at the same venue.