Zimbabwe Women tour of Ireland, 2025 - Series Digest

July 23

Ireland sweep series with another commanding win

Ireland completed a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe in the T20I series, with a comfortable 51-run win at the Pembroke Cricket Club in Dublin. Unlike the previous games, Gaby Lewis' services with the bat were not required as Amy Hunter notched up 59 which spearheaded the host's innings to take them to 180 for 4. In reply, Sophie MacMahon and Ava Canning picked up a brace to restrict Zimbabwe to 129 for 7.

Having opted to bat, Ireland's openers gave them the exact start they needed. Hunter and Rebecca Stokell (45) powered 52 runs in the PowerPlay to get the hosts off to a decent start. Both the batters were positive in their approach and the runs were flowing quickly. The openers put up a 96-run stand and Hunter too moved past 50 in her innings laden with nine fours and a six. But she fell against the run of play offering a return catch to Beloved Biza. Stokell fell couple of overs later in a run-out as Zimbabwe began to peg the hosts back.

Biza returned to scalp Coulter Reilly but Lousie Little and Laura Delaney steadied the ship to get the Irish back on track. And it was Orla Prendergast who added the final touches with a 24 off 9 which powered Ireland to the 180-run mark.

In the chase, Zimbabwe lost both their openers in the PowerPlay to MacMahon and Canning. But Biza, who was having a good game, and captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano steadied the ship in a 40-run stand. But wickets continued to tumble after that through some sloppy running. Eventually, Mugeri-Tiripano was caught by Prendergast off Ava Canning while MacMahon picked up the well set Modester Mupachikwa to give Ireland another simple win.

Brief Scores: Ireland 180/4 in 20 overs (Amy Hunter 59, Rebecca Stokell 45; Beloved Biza 2-21) beat Zimbabwe 129/7 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 39, Beloved Biza 25; Ava Canning 2-18, Sophie MacMahon 2-21) by 51 runs

July 22

Fifties by Lewis, Prendergast give Ireland unassailable 2-0 lead

Ireland backed up their 6-wicket win in the 1st T20I with another comprehensive 65-run win to take an unassailable 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in the T20I series. Led by skipper Gaby Lewis' 50-ball 87 and Orla Prendergast's 44-ball 52, Ireland posted a strong 176 for 4 before rattling the opposition out for 111 with Cara Murray claiming figures of 3 for 17.

Asked to bat first, Lewis took the attack to Zimbabwe's bowlers early. While Amy Hunter was trapped LBW by Tendai Makusha in the second over, it was followed by a massive 131-run stand between Lewis and Prendergast. Between them, they struck 21 fours and a six as Zimbabwe grappled for control. Lewis' departure in the 16th over, however, proved to be the shift in momentum Zimbabwe were seeking. Ireland managed to score only two further boundaries in the last four overs while losing two more wickets.

In reply, Zimbabwe were slow off the blocks - with just a solitary run coming in the first over courtesy a wide. Chasing a huge total demanded a strong start in the PowerPlay - something Zimbabwe failed to achieve as they scored at less than a run-a-ball in the first six overs. They were never able to catch up thereafter and a soaring asking-rate coupled with regular wickets meant that the contest was headed in only one direction. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 111 off the final delivery, leaving them glaringly short of the 177-run target.

Brief scores: Ireland 176/4 in 20 overs (Gaby Lewis 87, Orla Prendergast 52; Tendai Makusha 3-20) beat Zimbabwe 111 in 20 overs (Kelis Ndhlovu 46, Tendai Makusha 12; Cara Murray 3-17) by 65 runs

July 20