Ireland – 240-6 in 50 overs (Andy Balbirnie 64, Lorcan Tucker 61, Harry Tector 51; Richard Ngarava 2/42, Trevor Gwandu 2/44, Blessing Muzarabani 1/47)
Zimbabwe – 246-1 in 39.3 overs (Ben Curran 118*, Craig Ervine 69*, Brian Bennett 48; Graham Hume 1/39)
Zimbabwe won by nine wickets
Zimbabwe wrapped up their One-Day International (ODI) series against Ireland in emphatic fashion at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, powered by a scintillating maiden century from Ben Curran.
His superb knock, backed by Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett, propelled the hosts to a dominant nine-wicket victory with more than 10 overs to spare – one of their most convincing triumphs on the international stage.
This marks only the second time Zimbabwe have won an ODI by as many as nine wickets, the first being against Kenya in Bulawayo in 2002/03.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe opted to bowl first on a pitch that occasionally showed uneven bounce.
Ireland’s innings began cautiously, with just 17 runs coming from the first seven overs.
Paul Stirling, attempting an aggressive stroke against Richard Ngarava, misjudged a delivery that climbed on him and was caught by Johnathan Campbell for nine.
Curtis Campher followed for 11 off 19 balls, mistiming a pull off Trevor Gwandu, giving Campbell his second catch, this time at midwicket.
Skipper Andy Balbirnie took on the anchor role, aiming to hold the innings together alongside Harry Tector.
The pair stitched together a steady 86-run stand in 19 overs before Balbirnie, looking to accelerate, perished to a slog-sweep against Wellington Masakadza, with Wessly Madhevere running in from deep midwicket to take the catch.
He scored 64, with one six and four fours, off 99 deliveries and after his departure Ireland stood at 128 for three in the 33rd over.
Tector reached his fifty but soon fell victim to a mistimed pull off Ngarava, sending the ball straight to Blessing Muzarabani at midwicket.
His 51 off 84 balls was a crucial knock, but Ireland still found themselves in trouble at 160 for four.
George Dockrell managed only two before he edged a drive off Gwandu to the keeper, leaving Ireland at 173 for five in the 41st over.
Lorcan Tucker, however, provided much-needed late impetus, playing positively at better than a run-a-ball.
He found support in Mark Adair, and the duo added 57 runs in the final nine overs.
Tucker was eventually bowled in the last over by a straight delivery from Muzarabani, but not before top-scoring with 61 off 54 balls, featuring seven boundaries.
Andy McBrine flicked the very next ball over fine leg for six, pushing Ireland to a final total of 240 for six.
McBrine remained unbeaten on seven, with Adair contributing a useful 26 not out off 23 balls.
For Zimbabwe, Ngarava and Gwandu claimed two wickets apiece, though the spinners found less success on this surface.
Zimbabwe’s response was confident from the outset.
Curran signalled his intent with a sublime square cut for four off Adair in the opening over, setting the tone for an assertive chase.
The real statement of intent came in the fifth over when Curran struck Adair for a boundary, followed by Bennett hammering two more.
The pitch had eased, but Zimbabwe’s openers handled it with far greater authority than their Irish counterparts.
The duo raced to a century partnership in just 15 overs, with Curran blazing his way to 61 and Bennett playing a perfect supporting role on 39.
By the time Bennett fell for 48 off 48 balls – given out lbw to a delivery from Graham Hume that struck him high on the pad – Zimbabwe had already laid a solid foundation at 124 for one.
Ervine joined Curran and initially kept the scoreboard ticking in singles and twos.
However, the left-hander soon freed his arms, launching McBrine over midwicket for six.
With Ireland’s bowlers looking helpless, Zimbabwe brought up 150 in the 25th over, and Ervine, attacking freely rather than anchoring the innings, raced to his fifty off just 43 balls.
Curran, momentarily stuck on 99, finally reached his maiden international century with a paddle sweep for four, bringing up the milestone off 120 balls.
From there, he played with even greater fluency, taking 12 runs off a single over from McBrine.
Ervine fittingly sealed the victory in grand fashion, dancing down the track to deposit George Dockrell over long-on for six in the 39th over.
He remained unbeaten on a fluent 69 off 59 balls, striking three sixes and five fours, while Curran finished with a magnificent 118 off 130 deliveries, peppering the boundary with 14 fours.
With this dominant performance, Zimbabwe head into the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Ireland, starting on Saturday at Harare Sports Club, brimming with confidence.
