Ireland tour of Zimbabwe, 2025 - Series Digest

February 25

Zimbabwe claim series after another washout

Heavy rain for a major part of the day of the final T20I forced a no-result in Harare, which meant a series win for Zimbabwe who had won the second game of the series after a washout in the first game. Much like the series opener, this game also had the first innings completed, a shortened one at that as a delayed start meant an 18-overs-a-side game. With the pitch under covers for long and possibility of more rain, Ireland opted to bowl and their seamers relished the damp conditions with the new ball. Craig Young had Tadiwanashe Marumani nicking behind while left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys castled Wessly Madhevere with one that came in sharply with the angle.

Sikandar Raza (34 off 27) started slowly but then found his range with a few boundaries and a huge six to give Zimbabwe some momentum. His 44-run stand with Brian Bennett put the hosts on track for a strong total but both fell in Gareth Delany's first over to derail the innings. Ryan Burl looked good once again but wasn't able to kick on as Ireland's bowlers chipped away at the wickets with street-smart bowling. However, Tony Munyonga (26 off 19) and Tashinga Musekiwa (26* off 17) put on a crucial 39-run stand off just 21 balls to give the perfect finish to the innings. Zimbabwe ended with a competitive total of 142 but the rain returned just as the innings ended, and the weather didn't relent thereafter.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 142/6 in 18 overs (Sikandar Raza 34, Tashinga Musekiwa 26*; Craig Young 2-38) vs Ireland

February 23

Munyonga helps Zimbabwe take 1-0 lead

Zimbabwe's middle-order batter Tony Munyonga scored 43 off 30 - with five fours - to power his team to a 1-0 lead in the second T20I against Ireland in Harare. Ireland's Craig Young picked four wickets but couldn't be on the winning side as Zimbabwe chased down Ireland's 137/8 with three wickets and four balls to spare.

Ireland's essay was put together by the top-order trio of Lorcan Tucker (46), Harry Tector (28) and Curtis Campher (26) but Zimbabwe's collective bowling effort kept Ireland to a relatively small total. Young proceeded to make it seem a lot more than it was by reducing Zimbabwe to 14/3 in the fourth over, but the middle-order revived the chase. Sikandar Raza (22 off 27), Ryan Burl (27 off 20) and Tashinga Musekiwa (15 off 11) made vital contributions alongside Munyonga before Richard Ngarava (12* off 7) combined with the latter to see the home side through.

Brief Scores: Ireland 137/8 in 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 46, Harry Tector 28; Trevor Gwandu 3-24, Sikandar Raza 2-22) lost to Zimbabwe 141/7 in 19.2 overs (Tony Munyonga 43*, Ryan Burl 27; Craig Young 4-24) by 3 wickets

February 22

First T20I abandoned after incessant rain

Rain had the final say in the first Zimbabwe vs Ireland T20I in Harare. The elements delayed the start of the game before eventually making way for a curtailed nine-overs-a-side contest. Ireland, who opted to bowl, quickly reduced the hosts to 12/3 with Craig Young striking twice. Zimbabwe recovered through Ryan Burl, who smashed three sixes in an 18-ball 36 that powered his side to 77 for 5.

However, the rains returned in the innings break and eventually forced the abandonment.

February 20

Mark Adair ruled out of T20Is

A knee injury has ruled Mark Adair out of the upcoming T20Is, Cricket Ireland confirmed. Adair sustained the injury during the third ODI recently. Pacer Craig Young, who was a part of the ODI and Test squad, will now stay back as a replacement for Adair. The three T20Is will be played on February 22, 23 and 25.

February 16

All-round Campher, Stirling help Ireland draw level

Curtis Campher starred with both ball and bat and Paul Stirling led the way in the chase with a 102-ball 89 as Ireland hit back to level the ODI series 1-1. After restricting the hosts to 245 in the second ODI in Harare, Ireland rode on a 144-run stand between Stirling and Campher to canter home with six wickets and eight balls to spare.

For a second game running, Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl. They might have feared the worst when game one's centurion Brian Benett got off to another quick start. Bennett struck six boundaries in his 34-ball 30 before he was nicked off by Mark Adair. Zimbabwe were then propped up through the middle overs by Wesley Madhevere and Sikandar Raza as the pair stitched a 74-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Both batters got half-centuries before Madhevere fell LBW to Campher, who struck two more times in quick succession to reduce Zimbabwe to 157 for 6.

The hosts though still managed to get a total of some respectability courtesy Wellington Masakadza run-a-ball 35 pushing the total closer to the 250 mark before Adair polished off the tail to complete a four-wicket haul.

Ireland lost former captain Andrew Balbirnie early but Stirling and Campher took over to put the chase in control with a century stand. Campher was more sedate off the two, scoring his 63 runs off 94 balls but he was the ideal foil to Stirling's enterprise, who struck eight fours and two sixes in his knock of 89. When Stirling was dismissed, Ireland needed 46 to win from 10 overs. They got home without losing another wicket.

Brief scores:Zimbabwe 245 in 49 overs (Wesley Madhevere 61, Sikandar Raza 58; Mark Adair 4-54, Curtis Campher 3-13) lost to Ireland 249/4 in 48.4 overs (Paul Stirling 89, Curtis Campher 63; Trevor Gwandu 2-50) by six wickets

February 14

1st ODI - Bennett's 169 fires Zimbabwe to victory

Brian Bennett scored an excellent 169 - the fifth-highest individual score by a Zimbabwe batter in ODIs - as Zimbabwe hit back after the loss in the one-off Test with a comfortable 49-run win over Ireland in Harare. Asked to open the batting, Bennett struck as many as 20 fours and three sixes in his 163-ball innings, sharing partnerships worth 95 with Ben Curran and 136 with captain Craig Ervine for the first two wickets.

However, Zimbabwe were unable to get the finishing kick they would have wanted having been propped up to 231 for 2 after 41 overs. Ireland hit back with quick wickets even as Bennett held fort at one end and was the last of the Zimbabwe batters to fall in the final over of the innings. The hosts still had 299 on the board and Ireland were left to rue a bad day in the office for fast bowling talisman Josh Little, who conceded 75 from his nine overs conceding as many as 11 fours and five wides in his spell.

That said, Ireland were in the game for a good part of the second innings despite losing Andrew Balbirnie to the first ball of the chase. Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher then stitched a brisk 55-run stand for the second wicket off just 41 balls. The trouble for Ireland on the night was that as many as six batters crossed 30 but none managed more than the 44 that Campher managed as a top score. Ireland eventually lost their final four wickets for just eight runs as Blessing Muzarabani finished with 4 for 51 while Richard Ngarava picked up three wickets of his own.

Brief scores:Zimbabwe 299/5 in 50 overs (Brian Bennett 169, Craig Ervine 66; Mark Adair 2-55) beat Ireland 250 in 46 overs (Curtis Campher 44; Blessing Muzarabani 4-51, Richard Ngarava 3-56) by 49 runs.