Ireland Women and Zimbabwe Women tie series 1-1 after washout
Ireland Women and Zimbabwe Women have drawn their three-match ODI series 1-1 after the final game was abandoned due to a wet outfield in Harare.
Heavy rain overnight meant a delayed start at the Harare South Country Club and after four separate pitch inspections, the decision was taken to call off the match without a ball bowled.
Zimbabwe, ranked 10th in the world in ODIs, and Ireland, ranked 12th, had enjoyed a tight series up until the washout.
#Final One-Day Match: The third and final One-Day match between @ZimCricketv Women & @Irelandcricket Women at @StGeorgesZw was abandoned due to a wet outfield and this resulted in the series ended 1-1. #ZIMWvIRLW pic.twitter.com/vFsATiD9q7
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) February 5, 2018
The hosts won the first match on the DLS method, with Zimbabwe reaching 140/3 from 26 overs in reply to Ireland's 173/7 from their 50 overs. Shauna Kavanagh was the stand-out for the away team, scoring 79, but Modester Mupachikwa (40) and Chipo Mugeri (64*) propelled Zimbabwe at 5.38 runs per over to reach the revised target with time to spare.
Ireland made it 1-1 on 3 February as Rachel Delaney (68) and Isobel Joyce (91*) put on 171 runs together to take them to 207/5 from their 50 overs. In response, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 195 with Delaney picking up 3/33.
The two sides will now go onto play qualifiers for the ICC Women's World Twenty20, with the first game taking place at the same ground on Thursday 8 February.