Africa

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Ireland opener Ross Adair has been ruled out of the T20 series against Zimbabwe which starts on Saturday with uncapped Tim Tector called up as his replacement.

Former Ulster rugby player Adair will miss the three-match series because of a calf injury.

Tector, a brother of Ireland internationals Harry and Alice, earns his first senior call-up after previously playing for the Ireland Wolves and captaining his country at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup.

Adair is a brother of Ireland all-rounder Mark Adair, whose impressive bowling display helped the Irish level the one-day international series in Harare on Sunday.

The injured opener's last innings for Ireland was an impressive 100 off 58 balls against South Africa in Abu Dhabi last September.

Ireland selector Andrew White described Adair's withdrawal as an "unfortunate loss" but said he had "no doubt" Tector is ready for senior international cricket.

"He has been the inter-provincial T20 competition's leading run-scorer for two years running, not only scoring heavily but also at a strike-rate over 150," added White.

After Saturday's opener in Harare, the T20 series will continue on Sunday before next Tuesday's concluding game which will be Ireland's final tour fixture.

Ireland defeated the hosts in the one-off Test in Bulawayo and the sides are level at 1-1 going into Tuesday's decider in the one-day series in Harare.

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Second one-day international, Harare

Zimbabwe 245 (49.0 overs): Madhevere 61, Sikander Raza 58; Adair 4-54

Ireland 249-4 (48.4 overs): Stirling 89, Campher 63; Gwandu 2-50

Ireland won by six wickets

Scorecard

A 144-run partnership between captain Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher steered Ireland to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe as they levelled the ODI series in Harare.

The hosts were dimissed for 245 with Wesley Madhevere (61) and Sikandar Raza (58) putting on 74 for the fourth wicket.

Stirling (89) and Campher (63), who also took 3-13, set the Irish on course for victory and they reached 249-4 with eight balls to spare.

Zimbabwe secured a 49-run win in Friday's opener and the sides will meet again at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday for the decider.

Ireland won the toss on Sunday and elected to field with the Chevrons moving to 73-3 before Madhevere and Sikandar Raza put them in a good position.

Campher trapped Madhevere and followed it up with two wickets in two balls to swing the momentum in Ireland's favour.

Sikandar Raza steadied Zimbabwe's innings and from 157-6 they were bowled out for 245 with an over remaining with Mark Adair claiming 4-54.

Andrew Balbirnie fell for 11 before fellow opener Stirling and Campher took Ireland to 171-1.

Lorcan Tucker (30*) and George Dockrell (20*) were at the creased as victory was sealed.

"I think we were better [than the first ODI] - there's no lull in that middle period, Sikandar and Wesley battled really well and that's when we were under the most pressure," said Stirling.

"I chucked the ball to Curtis and he really turned the game on it's head. I think 250 was about right for us to chase and we got there."