Ireland look to carry forward momentum as Zimbabwe look to bounce back

OverviewZimbabwe vs Ireland, third ODI
Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
9 October, 9:30 AM local

A comprehensive 80-run win in the second ODI helped Ireland level the series 1-1. Zimbabwe, playing their first series since being granted official ODI status in April earlier this year, will be hoping that they can come back strongly in the third ODI and keep the hopes of a maiden bilateral series win alive.

Ireland, on the other hand, will be pleased with how they bounced back after Zimbabwe's four wicket-win in the first ODI and will want to spur on to their first bilateral ODI series win since 2012.

With Zimbabwe and Ireland set to be a part of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Global Qualifier next month, both teams will be keen to test their bench strength in the remaining two games of the series.

Remember the last time:

Ireland made light work of Zimbabwe and registered an 80-run win in the second ODI of the series.

Batting first, fifties from openers Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis put Ireland in a commanding position. Following the 135-run stand for the first wicket, the middle order too chipped in with vital contributions to take the visitors' total to 286.

Some splendid bowling from Ireland early on put a leash on Zimbabwe's scoring as the hosts found it difficult to break the shackles chasing a daunting total. Josephine Nkomo was Zimbabwe's lone bright spot with the bat with her unbeaten 70. At 121/8, her valiant partnership from 69 runs with Nomvelo Sibanda helped Zimbabwe reduce the margin of defeat.

Leah Paul, who was playing just her sixth ODI, was awarded the Player of the Match for her all-round performance of 118 with the bat and 1/29 with the ball.