Cricket Update: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 seal 20-run consolation victory in the final match
An all-round performance from John Mooney helped Ireland set up a 20-run consolation victory against hosts, Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, 30th of September.
The 20 run-win at Harare has helped the visitors to pass away humiliating 3-0 whitewash narrowing down the deficit to 2-1. The hosts had sealed the series with a 3-wicket win in the second One Day International of the three-match series played at the same
venue on Tuesday, 28th September.
John Mooney blazed away with the bat in the first half scoring 55 runs as the tourists recovered from 128 for 6 to set a respectable 50-overs total of 224 before the whole team was rolled over in the final over of innings. The second half of the game saw
Mooney sparkling with the ball picking up two crucial wickets of wicket keeper batsman Tatinda Taibu and the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Elton-Chigumbura-c55937 giving the visitors a token win.
On the brink of 20-run victory Ireland were troubled by the home side through an entertaining last-wicket partnership between Shingirai Masakadza and Ian Nicolson but the valiant 60-run stand proved not quite enough for Zimbabwe.
Once again, it was Elton Chigumbura winning the toss and had no hesitation in following his earlier moves – putting the tourists in to bat. The decision seemed to be worthwhile; Ed Rainsford scythed through the top order of the Ireland batting line-up –
sending back Paul Stirling, Andre Botha and the elder O'Brien in his opening four overs to leave the opposition reeling at 40 for 3.
Among the rubble Irish skipper, William Porterfield stood firm and found a back from younger O'Brien, Kevin O'Brien, to halt the slither. The home side, however, kept control with its spinners, the impressive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Prosper-Utseya-c82728 and Graeme Cremer, bowling in
Tandem. The former was more impressive comparatively as he returned with 1 for 26 from his 10-over spell.
Cremer bowled Kevin before the fluent skipper was run out just four runs behind a deserved fifty to leave Ireland tottering on 128 for 6. Compliant with the erratic nature of the series, the visitors fought back with Andrew White sharing a 66-run partnership
with John Mooney for the seventh wicket stand to drag Ireland towards a competitive score.
Ed Rainsford, the man of the match of opening fixture of the three-match series, broke the partnership on the first ball of 45th over removing White for 41 before trapping Albert van der Merwe leg before to finish his nine-over spell with 5 for
36.
John Mooney, despite losing his fluent partner Andrew White, stood firm to bring 200 up for the side. Belligerent Mooney cruised to the second half-century of his career before he was run out on in the final over for 55 that included two boundaries and two
sixes.
The home side, after having chased similar total in the earlier two games, seemed quite confident this time taking the Irish attack quite easy but the confidence shot back at them quite quickly as the openers were back in the pavilion for a combined contribution
of three runs. Kevin O'Brien trapped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 in his next over with the ball l*****g batsman’s pads.
Sean Williams and wicketkeeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tatenda-Taibu-c92882 gave a scare through an entertaining stand of 70 runs but Mooney broke the threatening partnership casting the latter for 22.
Thereafter, Ireland kept the control through its spinners Van der Merwe and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Williams-c98034 caught by Dockrell before Dockrell scythed through the lower order, claiming 3 wickets for 41 runs to leave the home side tottering on
164 for 9. 60-run stand between Shingirai Masakadza and Ian Nicolson failed to brush off the loss and the whole team was bowled out for 224 with 14 balls to spare.
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