Lady Chevrons lose ODI series

IRELAND completed a 2-0 series win over the Lady Chevrons in a three-match One Day International contest with an 81-run victory at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

The Lady Chevrons went into yesterday’s match needing victory to secure a 1-1 series draw but the Irish proved too strong with a commanding display.

Ireland won the first match by 10 wickets while the second match ended in a tie.

After winning the toss and electing to field first in their crunch encounter, the Lady Chevrons put up a good bowling performance as they bowled out Ireland for just 180 runs in 48,1 overs.

They however, crumbled with the bat as they were bowled out for just 99 runs in the 31st over. It was the Lady Chevrons’ fourth lowest score in their history.

ODI

Their lowest is 48 runs which came against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in 2021 followed by 72 runs against the same opponent also in Bulawayo and 81 against Pakistan in Harare in 2021 as well.

Zimbabwe made one change to the team that played in the second with Mitchell

ODI Mavunga coming in for Francesca Chipare.

It was Lindokuhle Mabhera — in just her second match for Zimbabwe — who was the stand-out bowlers for the Lady Chevrons alongside Loreen Tshuma and Precious Marange.

Tshuma finished with figures of 2/29 in her nine over spell while the 20-year-old Mabhera had figures of 2/31. The experienced Marange also claimed two scalps for 35 runs in her 10 overs.

Nomvelo Sibanda, Mavunga, Kelis Ndhlovu and Ashley Ndiraya all claimed one wicket apiece for the Lady Chevrons. Ireland’s top run scorer was Orla Prendergast with 41 runs off 67 balls while opening batter Leah Pail fell for 27 runs from 46 balls.

The Lady Chevrons failed to get going with the bat and found themselves on 6/1 in 3, 4 overs. They would later on crumble to 77/6 just after the halfway mark before being bowled out for just 99 runs. Ndiraya top scored for Zimbabwe with 25 runs off 35 balls while the skipper Mary-Anne Musonda made 23 runs from 52 balls. The other two batters who managed double figures are Chiedza Dhururu (11 off 43) and Nyasha Gwanzura (10 off 12).

Leading Ireland’s bowling unit was Cara Murray who finished with career best figures of 6/31 in 6,5 overs while Ava Canning, Arlene Kelly and Laura Delany picked up one wicket each.

Next up is the T20I series where the two teams will face off in five matches at Harare Sports Club on January 26, 28 and 30 and February 1 and 2.

The last two matches will be played under floodlights with matches starting at 18:30pm.