UNBEATEN 96 from Gaby Lewis led Ireland Women to an 8 wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third One Day International (ODI) to lead the four-match series 2-1 going into the final ODI on Monday.
The victory ensured that Ireland will not lose the series at the very least leave with a draw.
Ireland first dominated the match with ball skittling Zimbabwe out for paltry 178 in 47 overs.
It was a combination of one or two batters being dismissed by good balls and some Zimbabwe batters giving their wickets away on an excellent surface for batting.
To defend a low total, Zimbabwe needed some early wickets. Still, just like in the second ODI, Ireland openers kept the host’s bowlers at bay to set up a convincing victory for the visitors.
Captain Mary-Anne shuffled her bowlers looking for a breakthrough, but Lewis and her opening partner Paul remained resolute.
The match’s top scorer, Lewis, was pleasant to watch with both her technical ability and aptitude to punish Zimbabwe bowlers each time they strayed in line and length.
Lady Chevron’s spinners didn’t bowl with the same control that the Irish exhibited on a wicket that had something for the spinners.
Zimbabwe’s breakthrough in the 31st over when Tasmeen Granger had Paul caught behind for a well-played fifty and in the process breaking an opening stand of 145.
When Granger took her second wicket, the result was purely academic, with Ireland cruising to victory on the back of Lewis’s unbeaten 96 off 129 balls.
Batting first Zimbabwe innings never really got going. Openers Modester Mupachikwa and Chiedza Dhururu put on 39 runs for the first wicket in 13.4 overs before Dhururu was caught behind for 16 from 41 balls by wicketkeeper Waldron off the bowling of Murray.
Two overs later, Mupachikwa (23) followed her partner back to the dressing room as she became Murray’s second wicket of the match.
From there, it became a procession as Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals. Musonda top-scored for Lady Chevrons with 26 from 22 balls. Ireland captain got one to jack back and knocked off Musonda’s off stump.
There was no resistance from the middle order, with only Patience Marange trying to make sure Zimbabwe had something to defend. She, too, perished for 20.
It’s unforgivable that Zimbabwe didn’t use up all their overs as they were bowled out in the 47th over.
Tomorrow they will have to bat and bowl better if they entertain any hopes of levelling up the series.
Mupachikwa, by her lofty standards, failed to convert the starts she has had at the top of the order in this series. If she fires and converts, she can help her team to a famous series-levelling victory in Zimbabwe’s maiden ODI series.
Lewis and Paul have shown that they are technically correct but are both vulnerable to spin. Lady Chevrons will have to come up with ways to knock them over to get early wickets.
