CLIVE Madande held the nerve to smash a boundary off the last ball as Zimbabwe snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to beat Ireland by three wickets in a rain-affected opening One Day International at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday.
One had to be at the ground to experience the adrenalin that characterised the match culminating in the hosts’ taking a morale boost 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Some slight drizzle engulfed Harare Sports Club in the late hours of the afternoon to compound Zimbabwe’s woes as they were behind by two runs on the Duck Worth Lewis method.
The passionate fans stayed behind during the rain, kept faith backed by their intimidating support later went into ecstasy when Madande took the team over the line at death.
Ireland had ticked all the boxes getting two vital centuries from their Captain Andy Balbirnie, who retired hurt on 121, and Harry Tector’s unbeaten 101 to reach 288/4 in their allotted overs.
Zimbabwe’s main undoing was their failure to take wickets. However, star performer Sikandar Raza returned to the squad with a vengeance after missing the T20I series last week. Raza scored 43 runs before he was caught looking to go over the top when play resumed after the rain stoppage.
Zimbabwe were given a revised target to score 39 runs from 3.4 overs. After getting to his half-century, accomplished match finisher Ryan Burl was runout for 59 while attempting a second run.
Brad Evans took occupant of the crease and sliced a six over deep point but was out the next ball, trapped LBW by Graham Hume with Zimbabwe needing five runs from two balls.
Wellington Masakadza immediately got off the mark with a single off his first delivery he faced leaving Madande to face the final ball, a boundary and sink affair.
He clobbered it over the deep midwicket boundary for one bounce four to script the most remarkable comeback of 2023.
The next match is at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
