A brilliant innings of 169 by Brian Bennett, followed by incisive fast bowling from Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, brought Zimbabwe a handsome victory by 49 runs in the first One-Day International (ODI) match against Ireland at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Andy Balbirnie won the toss for tourists and put the hosts in to bat.
Bennett, for the first time in an ODI, and Ben Curran opened the innings for Zimbabwe and they were soon dominating the attack with their fine batting.
Most of the runs came from Bennett, who took most of the bowling.
They put on 95 for the first wicket in less than 19 overs before Curran, going for a big hit, skyed a catch to point off Andy McBrine.
Craig Ervine proved an even better partner for the rampant Bennett, and in 22 overs they thrashed the attack in a stand worth 136 runs, during which Bennett reached his first ODI century off 117 balls.
Ervine scored 66 off 61 balls before he pulled a ball from Graham Hume to deep square leg, where Mark Adair ran in to take a difficult low catch – 231 for two after 41 overs.
At one stage during his innings, he hit Matthew Humphreys for two straight sixes and a four in one over.
With nine overs remaining, Zimbabwe looked set for a late onslaught, but the anticipated fireworks never fully materialised.
Sikandar Raza struggled to find his rhythm and chipped a catch to cover for eight, while Wessly Madhevere also failed to accelerate, falling for eight runs also at deep extra cover.
Bennett, lacking a steady partner in the final overs, took on the responsibility himself.
He was eventually dismissed in the last over, caught at deep extra cover off Adair, after a superb knock of 169 off 163 balls, which included three sixes and 20 fours.
His innings ranks among the top five highest scores by a Zimbabwean in ODIs.
Zimbabwe finished on 299 for five, managing only four runs from the final five balls of the innings, including a no-ball.
Adair took two wickets, while Josh Little, Ireland’s fastest bowler, proved expensive, conceding 75 runs in nine overs despite dismissing Raza.
Ireland faced an uphill task, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers struck early.
In the very first over, Ngarava removed Balbirnie, who edged a catch to wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Paul Stirling counterattacked effectively but perished for 32 off 28 balls, edging to the keeper off Muzarabani, leaving Ireland reeling at 55 for two after eight overs.
Curtis Campher played fluently for 44 off 57 balls before falling to Raza – Marumani’s third successive catch behind the stumps, all off different bowlers.
Lorcan Tucker contributed 31 off 38 balls before dragging a Muzarabani delivery onto his stumps.
Meanwhile, Harry Tector struggled for fluency, managing only 39 runs off 78 balls.
His painstaking innings ended when Ervine took a low catch at short third man off Madhevere’s bowling.
Adair departed for two, leaving Ireland at 169 for six in the 36th over, needing more than eight runs per over to stay in the contest.
With their top six dismissed without any reaching a half-century, Zimbabwe had seized the advantage.
However, George Dockrell and McBrine mounted a spirited resistance, attacking boldly to push Ireland past 200 while keeping up with the required run rate.
Ervine’s tactical move to reintroduce his fast bowlers early proved decisive.
Muzarabani returned with 60 runs required off the last six overs and struck immediately, dismissing McBrine for 32 off 32 balls with a catch at deep backward square leg, breaking a 73-run stand in nine overs.
Three balls later, Dockrell followed for 34 off 35 balls, skying a big hit to cow corner, swinging the match firmly in Zimbabwe’s favour.
Ngarava wrapped up the innings in the very next over, taking the final two wickets as Ireland were bowled out for 250, securing Zimbabwe’s comfortable victory.
Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets for 51 runs, while Ngarava took three for 56.
Wellington Masakadza played a crucial holding role, conceding just 40 runs off his 10 overs despite going wicketless.
Zimbabwe – 299-5 in 50 overs (Brian Bennett 169, Craig Ervine 66, Ben Curran 28; Mark Adair 2/55, Andy McBrine 1/53, Graham Hume 1/57)
Ireland – 250 all out in 46 overs (Curtis Camphor 44, Harry Tector 39, George Dockrell 34; Blessing Muzarabani 4/51, Richard Ngarava 3/56, Wessly Madhevere 2/12)
Zimbabwe won by 49 runs
