A brilliant innings of 169 by Brian Bennett, followed by incisive fast bowling from Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, brought Zimbabwe a handsome victory by 49 runs in the first One-Day International (ODI) match against Ireland at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Andy Balbirnie won the toss for tourists and put the hosts in to bat.
Bennett, for the first time in an ODI, and Ben Curran opened the innings for Zimbabwe and they were soon dominating the attack with their fine batting.
Most of the runs came from Bennett, who took most of the bowling.
They put on 95 for the first wicket in less than 19 overs before Curran, going for a big hit, skyed a catch to point off Andy McBrine.
Craig Ervine proved an even better partner for the rampant Bennett, and in 22 overs they thrashed the attack in a stand worth 136 runs, during which Bennett reached his first ODI century off 117 balls.
Ervine scored 66 off 61 balls before he pulled a ball from Graham Hume to deep square leg, where Mark Adair ran in to take a difficult low catch – 231 for two after 41 overs.
Sikandar Raza struggled to find his rhythm and chipped a catch to cover for eight, while Wessly Madhevere also failed to accelerate, falling for eight runs also at deep extra cover.
Bennett, lacking a steady partner in the final overs, took on the responsibility himself.
He was eventually dismissed in the last over, caught at deep extra cover off Adair, after a superb knock of 169 off 163 balls, which included three sixes and 20 fours.
His innings ranks among the top five highest scores by a Zimbabwean in ODIs.
Zimbabwe finished on 299 for five, managing only four runs from the final five balls of the innings, including a no-ball.
Adair took two wickets, while Josh Little, Ireland’s fastest bowler, proved expensive, conceding 75 runs in nine overs despite dismissing Raza.
Ireland faced an uphill task, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers struck early.
In the very first over, Ngarava removed Balbirnie, who edged a catch to wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani.
Paul Stirling counterattacked effectively but perished for 32 off 28 balls, edging to the keeper off Muzarabani, leaving Ireland reeling at 55 for two after eight overs.
Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, claiming four wickets for 51 runs, while Ngarava took three for 56.
Wellington Masakadza played a crucial holding role, conceding just 40 runs off his 10 overs despite going wicketless.
