Gabby Lewis scored an unbeaten half-century as Ireland cruised to an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first One-Day International in Harare due to rain.
The match was shortened from 46 overs to 44 overs due to rain throughout the day, but after Zimbabwe’s innings, heavy rain forced a 21-over shootout, with Ireland easily catching up to Duckworth-Lewis-Stern’s revised target of 109 overs. Opener Amy Hunter and Lewis have more than seven overs to spare.
Ireland won the toss and put their opponents into bat, but early wickets from Eva Canning, Arlene Kelly and Freya Sargent meant they were reduced to 43 for 3 within 14 overs, giving them no chance of making a good impression. could not.
Ashley Ndiraya top-scored for the hosts with 47 and did her best to build partnerships with the opposition players, but her regular wickets continued to fall and she was dismissed by Carla Murray’s second wicket. The score at that time was 6-115.
With Zimbabwe all out for 170, Sargent took Ireland’s third and final wicket ahead of Michelle Mabunga, before another heavy rain.
The match was reduced to 21 overs and Ireland’s target, unbeatable in the run chase, proved too easy for the opening pair.
Hunter is undefeated in 36 fights and was the perfect partner for Lewis. Lewis hit 11 quads and one six to score a not-out 65 and his eighth ODI 50 as Ireland clinched a comfortable victory.