A fantastic bowling performance helped Zimbabwe clinch a thriller in the fifth and final T20I against Ireland on Saturday despite posting a score of only 124 in the first half.
The tourists won by five runs, dismissing the hosts for 119 in their allotted 20 overs to end with a consolation victory in their 3-2 series defeat.
Luke Jongwe (3/29) and Donald Tiripano (3/31) shared six wickets between them, while Blessing Muzurabani (0/18), Richard Ngarava (1/14) and Wellington Masakadza (1/15) kept things extremely tight through their respective spells.
Ireland’s longstanding batting issues were once again exposed, as 22 from Neil Rock was the top score from their batting unit. Opening batsman Paul Stirling was second to him in the list with a 19.
Losing wickets at regular intervals, the Irish never got going in the chase and fell five short of victory with the run-out of No.11 Joshua Little off the last ball.
Earlier in the day, Craig Ervine’s sedate half-century (67* off 57) kept Zimbabwe afloat despite being 3/2 at one stage and then finding themselves struggling at 3/34 by the end of the seventh over.
Ervine’s innings, supported by Dion Myers (26) and Milton Shumba (14*) towards the end, allowed the tourists to cross the 120-mark.
Pacers Mark Adair (3/23) and Little (1/16) were the pick of the bowlers for the hosts. Craig Young (0/23) and Andy McBrine (0/23) supported them well.
Ireland will feel very disappointed not to have won despite what seemed to be a decisive first half and chasing less than six and a half runs per over.
Brief scores
Zimbabwe 124/4 in 20 overs (Ervine 67, Myers 26; Adair 3/23, Little 1/16) beat Ireland 119/10 in 20 overs (Rock 22, Stirling 19; Jongwe 3/29, Tiripano 3/31) by 5 runs.
