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After losing the first game, Ireland made a comeback in the second game of three-match ODI series against the hosts Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. Ireland defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets to level the three-match series by 1-1. For Ireland, Paul Stirling played a captain’s knock of 89 runs while Curtis Campher showed all-round performance, taking three scalps and scoring 63 runs. Batting first, Zimbabwe were looking to get a good start before Brian Bennett lost his wicket to Mark Adair after scoring 30(34) runs at the score of 38 runs after seven overs.
The hosts were reduced to 77/3 in 16.2 overs. After that, Wesley Madhevere and Sikandar Raza took charge of the innings as the duo added 74 runs for the fourth wicket. Madhevere top scored with 61(70) runs, hitting six boundaries, while Raza got out after scoring 58(75) runs with five boundaries. Wellington Masakadza also contributed with 35 runs in the end as Zimbabwe crossed the 240-run mark and were bowled out on 245 with an over remaining. For Ireland, Mark Adair registered figures of 4/54. Apart from that, Curtis Campher also took three wickets while Graham Hume, Joshua Little and Andy McBrine scalped a wicket each.
Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher guide Ireland to one-sided victory
Chasing the winning target, Ireland lost Andrew Balbirnie (11 off 20) at the score of 27 runs in 5.2 overs. After that, skipper Paul Stirling and CurtisIreland tour of Zim Campher took charge of the innings as the duo put up a partnership of 144 runs for the second wicket. After taking three wickets with the ball, Camphor also shone with the bat and got out after scoring 63(94) runs, hitting three fours and a maximum, while Stirling top scored with 89(102) runs, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
After that, Lorcan Tucker (32* off 46) and George Dockrell (run-a-ball 20*) gave finishing touches with the bat as Ireland chased the winning target in 48.4 overs at the loss of four wickets. The third and final ODI of the series will be played in Harare on February 18.
