LADY Chevrons suffered a 60-run defeat to Ireland at Harare Sports Club yesterday, handing the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five match T20 series.Two half centuries from Orla Prendergast (69) from 48 balls and Ireland captain Laura Delany’s unbeaten 54 runs from 38 deliveries set the visitors to a comfortable score, a 169/3 in their allotted 20 overs.
Delany elected to bat after winning the toss and would have thought otherwise after Zimbabwe took their first wicket as early as 1.1 overs. Opener Gaby Lewis was caught behind by wicketkeeper Chiedza Dhururu for a four-ball duck off left-arm pacer Nomvelo Sibanda’s bowling.
Fellow opener, Amy Hunter, rebuilt the innings together with Prendergast, scoring 42 runs off 29 balls before the wicketkeeper batter was caught by Nyasha Gwanzura off the bowling of Loreen Tshuma in the 10th over with Ireland on 67/2 after 9.1 overs.
Prendergast and Delany then took the potency off the Lady Chevrons with an 86-run partnership for the third wicket that saw the former bowing out after hitting nine fours and a six for her 69.
She was caught by Sibanda off the bowling of spinner, Kelis Ndhlovu. At this stage Ireland had raced to 153/3 after 18.5 overs leaving skipper Delany who scored six boundaries and two maximums to take the team to 169/3 unbeaten on 54 together with Rebecca Stokell also not out on two runs from one ball.
In response, Zimbabwe lost the wicket of skipper, Mary-Anne Musonda, early for seven after she was caught by Georgina Dempsey off Prendergast’s bowling after 2.4 overs, leaving the hosts on 22/1. It soon became 34/2 after a contentious run out decision on Pellagia Mujaji for three runs after 6.4 overs and 50/3 with the dismissal of Ndhlovu for 36 in the ninth over.
Tshuma scored 25, Dhururu was unbeaten on 24 from 33 balls as Zimbabwe ended their run chase on 109/7 in their 20 overs. Louise Little picked two wickets for eight runs from two overs for Ireland.
The dead rubber fourth T20I match is set for tomorrow at the same venue.
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