Big game Hunter gets guns out in Zimbabwe

IT’S 837 days since Amy Hunter hit a record-breaking century on her 16th birthday at the Harare Sports Club, the Belfast wicketkeeper-batter struck her second international century at the same venue – which makes her the only Irish women’s cricketer to score an international century in both one-day international and T20 international formats, and one of only three Irish cricketers (men or women) to do so.

Hunter’s unbeaten 101 came off just 66 balls, featuring 13 fours and a six. There was late-on drama as she neared the milestone, she was on 99 not out at the non-strikers end with two balls of the innings to go, but a glanced single by captain Laura Delany got Hunter on strike for what was meant to be the last ball – but that ball went for a wide down legside – however, the diminutive wicketkeeper-batter remained calm and glided the last ball through square leg for two – raising her bat to the relief of teammates and fans alike. Delany had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first and the opening pair of Hunter and Gaby Lewis (56 off 39 balls) got Ireland off to the perfect start, racing away to 52-0 after the powerplay. The pair combined to score a recordbreaking T20I partnership of 138 to set the platform for victory. Hunter brought up what was her second T20I half-century with a six off Tshuma in the 12th over, before Lewis fell to Nyasha Gwanzura a couple of overs later. Kudzai Chigora took two late wickets as Ireland finished on 191-3 – their highest against a Full Member.

Facing a difficult challenge in the run chase, Zimbabwe openers Kelis Ndhlovu and captain Mary-Ann Musonda stuck to the task, and scored 38 runs for the first wicket, before Alana Dalzell, Georgina Dempsey, and Cara Murray saw Ireland home, as the hosts finished on 134-5. Dalzell finished up with career-best T20I figures of 2-20. The second match of the fivematch series takes place tomrrow at 11am Irish time.