ZIMBABWE WOMEN TOUR OF IRELAND, 2025
Gaby Lewis scored 67 in her team’s win © Getty
July 20
Gaby Lewis, bowlers give Ireland early lead
A measured half-century from skipper Gaby Lewis after a disciplined bowling effort saw Ireland take an early lead in the home series against Zimbabwe. Orla Prendergast kickstarted the game with a wicket off just the third ball of the game but that was followed by a watchful partnership for the second wicket. But once that resistance broke, Ireland ran through the Zimbabwe lineup. 42/1 became 87/6 in the 14th over and Ireland just didn’t look back from thereon.
Skipper Chipo Mugeri, who was watching the carnage unfold at the other end, battled hard for a 50-ball 42 but her dismissal in the final over ensured Zimbabwe didn’t go past the 120-run mark. The visitors finished with just 117/9 on the board with Cara Murray being the pick of the bowlers with a three-wicket haul.
Zimbabwe did have some hope at least until the halfway point in the chase. While Amy Hunter stuttered, Lewis kept finding the boundary as the openers added 39. But with both Hunter and Prendergast getting out cheaply, Zimbabwe still had a chance with Ireland scoring only 54 after 10 overs. However, Lewis then squashed those hopes as she went on a boundary spree to put Zimbabwe on the backfoot. She smashed 13 fours and a six in her 67 and by the time she was dismissed, the run rate received a big boost which in turn made things easier for the hosts who completed the chase with more than three overs to spare.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe117/9 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri 42; Cara Murray 3/19, Arlene Kelly 2/10) lost to Ireland118/4 in 16.5 overs (Gaby Lewis 67; Kudzai Chigora 2/18) by 6 wickets
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