ZIMBABWE national cricket team batting ineptness saw the locals continue on an uncharacteristic freefall as they crashed to a four-wicket defeat against a fired-up Ireland in the second one-day international match at Harare Sports Club yesterday to take a 1-0 lead.
The Chevrons posted a paltry 166 all out inside 42.5 overs as Irish seamer Josh Little came back to haunt Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza over his decision to bat first having won the toss.
Ireland chased down the target in 40.1 overs reaching 170 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Little rattled through Zimbabwe’s top order getting the first four wickets in a blistering spell that saw the hosts tethering on 19/4 after 5.6 overs.
Opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was the first one to depart for a six-ball eight runs, caught by Andy Balbirnie.
Left-handed batsman, Milton Shumba went back without troubling the scorers for a two-ball duck after being caught behind by wicketkeeper, Lorcan Tucker, while Joylord Gumbie was clean bowled by Little for five runs off 14 balls.
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Raza fell for two runs after being bowled by Little for 12 runs as the centre could not hold any more for the Chevrons.
He finished with player of the match figures of six wickets for 36 runs in 10 overs, earning Raza’s plaudits.
“Take nothing away from Josh Little. When you lose four wickets for 19, it is a rescue operation. That has unfortunately been a pattern for us. Just hoping we can get a partnership at the start and get a good total on the board,” Raza said after the match.
“I have always said opportunities come at funny times and if you can capitalise, you can have a great career. Credit to Burl, Madande and Masakadza for the way they resurrected the innings. Lots of inside edges and outside edges went against us, could not have asked for more from the bowlers.”
A 45-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Ryan Burl and Clive Madande took Zimbabwe to 64 as the latter departed for 33 runs off 42 balls.
Madande was caught by substitute fielder, NA Rock off the bowling of Andy McBrine in the 19th over.
Burl held fort with the bat this time combining forces with Wellington Masakadza for a 63-run partnership for the seventh wicket before he was beaten by the bounce to edge an intended cut short to Tucker behind the wicket off Harry Tector’s bowling in the 36th over for 38 runs off 89 deliveries.
Masakadza followed moments later for 40 runs from 47 balls after he was caught by Ireland captain, Paul Stirling at midwicket becoming Little’s fifth victim after which Blessing Muzarabani (11) and Tanaka Chivanga (8) not out carried past 150. Mark Adair, Craig Young, McBrine and Tector picked a wicket each.
Zimbabwean bowlers took the fight to Ireland in a spirited attempt to defend a low total with Muzarabani and Brandon Mavuta taking two wickets for 23 runs from 10 overs and 37 from 10 respectively.
Chivanga and Richard Ngarava claimed a scalp apiece. The first match was abandoned following a heavy downpour and the third and final match is set for Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
“We are getting better with each game. Slightly disappointed we came off for rain in the last game,” said Ireland captain, Stirling.”