At the Harare Sports Club, they lost by 49 runs on a day when Curtis Campher scored 1,000 ODI runs for Ireland. Ireland had won three of their previous five games against the hosts, with two of those games being washed out, going into the encounter. Rain was predicted, and there was a lingering concern of suffering the same fate as the latter.
When Ireland won the toss and decided to field first, Brian Bennett and the rest of Zimbabwe’s top order took control.
A batting masterpiece was delivered by the tall right-hander, who was playing in just his seventh ODI. He hit 169 off 163 balls, including three sixes and 20 fours. At 95, Andy McBrine dismissed Ben Curran for 28 to finish the first stand. However, Craig Ervine built on the foundation by giving Bennett strong support, scoring 66 runs off of 61 balls.
They combined to hit 136 runs for the second wicket, helping Zimbabwe reach 299-5 in their 50 overs. Though it was hard to find steady breakthroughs, the Irish bowlers Mark Adair (2-55) and Graham Hume (1-57) were the best. After falling off the opening delivery of the innings and being caught behind by Richard Ngarava, Andrew Balbirnie gave the Irish batting a difficult start.
With a quick 32 from 28 balls, including two sixes, Paul Stirling tried to counterattack, but Blessing Muzarabani eventually got rid of him. Harry Tector (39) and Curtis Campher (44) provided a patient combination that steadied the ship, although scoring was challenging due to Zimbabwe’s tight bowling. After that, George Dockrell (34) and Lorcan Tucker (31) attempted to keep Ireland in the hunt, but the visitors’ persistent wicket losses made things difficult.
Richard Ngarava (3-56) and Blessing Muzarabani (4-51) spearheaded Zimbabwe’s bowling attack as they eventually bowled Ireland out for 250 in 46 overs. Immediately, focus shifts to Sunday’s second ODI and the potential to tie the series.
Match Summary
- Ireland v Zimbabwe, Ireland tour of Zimbabwe 2025, Harare Sports Club, 14th February, 2025
- Zimbabwe 299-5 (50 overs; B Bennett 169; M Adair 2-55)
- Ireland 250 (46 overs; C Campher 44; B Muzarabani 4-51)
- Zimbabwe won by 49 runs
India
