IN a stirring reversal of fortune, Zimbabwe snapped a four-match ODI losing streak with a commanding 49-run victory over Ireland fueled by 21-year-old Brian Bennett’s sensational maiden century a dazzling 169 that rewrote record books and reignited hope for the hosts at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Thrust into the opener’s role for the first time in ODIs, Bennett transformed Valentine’s Day into a celebration of Zimbabwean cricket, orchestrating a career-defining innings that accounted for over 56% of his team’s total. His audacious 168-ball blitz featuring 20 boundaries and three sixes—propelled Zimbabwe to 299 for 5, the fifth-highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in men’s ODIs. More crucially, it exhibited the emergence of a new generation ready to shoulder the nation’s cricketing ambitions.
“I’ve been itching for this opportunity,” Bennett admitted post-match, “I was pushing them for a while to get up and happy to get that opportunity I just wanted to watch the ball and hit the ball. It’s a very good sign, and I hope to do that again on Sunday. I wanted to take it deep as one of the set batters among the top four.”
While Bennett’s brilliance dominated headlines, Ireland’s sloppy fielding became a subplot that haunted their chase. Three dropped catches and a missed stumping allowed the opener to capitalize ruthlessly, a point lamented by captain Paul Stirling: “We gifted Bennett chances, and he punished us. That 50-run gap decided the game.”
Zimbabwe’s innings was a tale of two partnerships: Bennett’s 95-run opening stand with Ben Curran (21) dismantled Ireland’s new-ball attack, before a 136-run second-wicket collaboration with Craig Ervine (66) methodically dismantled the middle overs. Ervine’s inventive strokeplay—highlighted by cheeky scoops and sweeps—complemented Bennett’s power, as the pair lifted Zimbabwe to 200 by the 38th over.
Chasing 300 on a placid track, Ireland’s reply flickered with intent but flamed out dramatically. After Andrew Balbirnie fell first ball, Stirling (32), Curtis Campher (44), and Harry Tector (39) all squandered starts, while Lorcan Tucker’s gritty 31 ended with an inside edge onto his stumps. At 169 for 6, the chase seemed buried—until George Dockrell (34) and Andy McBrine (36) injected late drama with a 73-run eighth-wicket stand.
Enter Blessing Muzarabani. The lanky seamer’s fiery 45th over snuffed out Ireland’s resistance, dismissing both Dockrell and McBrine in a four-ball span to finish with 4 for 51. Richard Ngarava (3 for 56) then mopped up the tail, exposing Ireland’s fragility under pressure as their last four wickets tumbled for just eight runs.
With a 1-0 series lead, Zimbabwe will eye a clinching victory in the second ODI, while Ireland must address fielding lapses and death-over composure. For Bennett, the challenge now is consistency but on this Valentine’s Day, he gave Zimbabwe cricket something far sweeter than a fleeting romance.
Key Stats: Bennett became the fourth-youngest men’s ODI batter to score 150+, a feat overshadowing even Brendan Taylor’s storied career. His innings were a fusion of youthful fearlessness and calculated aggression.
