Zimbabwe Women ease to win over Ireland Women in rain-affected ODI
The hosts were set a revised target of 140 to win from 33 overs after rain delayed the start of their reply. Ireland had struggled to 173/7 from their 50 overs, an innings dominated by a wonderful 79* from Shauna Kavanagh (pictured above). The 25-year-old right-hander hit five fours and five sixes in her 118-ball knock, which formed the backbone of her team’s innings from No.5.
None of the Zimbabwe bowlers truly ran through the Ireland line-up but most were miserly, with 35-year-old Precious Marange the pick thanks to her 2/21 from 10 overs.
With the ball wet and the target reduced, Zimbabwe never looked in trouble during the chase. Their effort was underpinned by a significant 93-run partnership between opener Modester Mupachikwa (40) and captain Chipo Mugeri, whose unbeaten 64 helped steer her side over the line for the loss of just three wickets, with seven overs to spare.
Twenty-one-year-old medium-pacer Sophie MacMahon made an impact with the ball – she took 2/12 off three overs – but it was all too little too late for the tourists.
The win puts Zimbabwe 1-0 up with two to play in the ODI series, which will be followed by five T20Is.