Ireland win third ODI against Zimbabwe
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 beat Zimbabwe in the third and the final ODI that was played at the Harare Sports Complex in Harare by 20 runs. However, the Zimbabwean team had already won the series by winning the first two games of the three-match series at the same venue.
For the third time in a row, Ireland were inserted into bat by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045. And for the second time in running, they started off well with an opening cameo adding 33 runs in 4.3 overs. however, the star of the previous game, Paul Stirling failed to kick on and
was claimed by Ed Rainsford for 13.
One wicket led to two more as Rainsford medium-pace bowling found some swing movement and the pair of Andre Botha and Niall O’Brien were dismissed in quick succession to reduce the side to 40/3 in the seventh over.
William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien were then involved in a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket that brought back sanity in the proceedings. Porterfield made 46 and O’Brien made a rapid 34, before another collapse ensued and the Irish slumped to 128/6.
At this stage, it did look like Ireland would struggle to get to 200 in their 50 overs and make things easier for the Zimbabwean team.
As it turned out, once the shine wore out, the batting became much easier. John Mooney, batting at the number eight position played a matured hand of 55 and in partnership with Andrew White propelled the side out of trouble.
In the end, Ireland went on to be bowled out by Rainsford in the final over to get him his fifth wicket and the side managed 244.
Replying to the Irish resurgence, Zimbabwe lost two early wickets as well. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 failed to continue from his half-century in the previous game and scored
only three.
Sean http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tatenda-Taibu-c92882 then brought the team back into the game with a 70-run stand for the third wicket. Taibu made 22, but his dismissal began a period of play where the Zimbabwean batsmen got off to starts but failed to score too many.
It was the wicket of Williams that pegged the Zimbabweans back and they collapsed from 116/3 to 164/9.
The last wicket stand of 60 runs between Shingirai Masakadza and Ian Nicholson kept the Zimbabweans in the hunt, but with 21 to win off 15 balls, Nicholson was sent back. Ireland won by 20 runs.
Mooney was declared the man of the match.
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