Zimbabwe triumphed over Ireland 1-0 in a rain-impacted T20 series. The final match was abandoned due to rain following Zimbabwe’s 142-6 innings. Sikandar Raza was the leading scorer for Zimbabwe. Overall, this win followed their earlier success in a one-day international series against Ireland.
Zimbabwe secured a 1-0 victory over Ireland in a rain-affected T20 series held in Harare. The final match, which was designed to complete the series, was abandoned due to inclement weather, continuing the unfortunate trend from the first match where rain also interfered, resulting in no result. However, Zimbabwe achieved success by winning the sole match that was completed, claiming victory by three wickets on a prior date.
In the concluding match of the series, Zimbabwe managed to score 142 runs for the loss of six wickets, despite a 50-minute rain delay before their innings began. Unfortunately, rain returned immediately after their innings ended, preventing Ireland from taking to the field to chase the set total. Ireland’s captain Paul Stirling remarked on the missed opportunity, stating, “I think it would have been a good game. Zimbabwe crept to an above-par score, and it would have been a really good chase.”
Sikandar Raza led Zimbabwe’s batting with a top score of 34 runs, which included two sixes and two fours, in a match shortened to 18 overs for each side due to weather conditions. Additionally, Tony Munyonga, who previously played a crucial role with an unbeaten 43 in the match that was completed, along with Tashinga Musekiwa, each contributed 26 runs to their total. In terms of bowling, Gareth Delany (2-5) and Craig Young (2-38) were the standout performers for Ireland.
This T20 series win concludes a successful white-ball campaign for Zimbabwe, having earlier triumphed in a one-day international series against Ireland with a 2-1 margin. Ireland did, however, start the tour on a strong note, winning a one-off Test match by 63 runs in Bulawayo.
In summary, Zimbabwe achieved a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Ireland in their T20 series, marked by rain disruptions that affected two of the three scheduled matches. The only completed match saw Zimbabwe’s batting shine, with key contributions from Sikandar Raza and Tony Munyonga. This victory capped a successful tour for Zimbabwe, following their earlier win in the ODI series against the same opponent.
Original Source: www.jacarandafm.com
