Zimbabwe v Ireland ODI: Weather prevents result in opener after hosts struggle

Ireland seamer Graham Hume produced tidy figures of 2-7 in his 4.3 overs before rain prevented a result in Harare

Lightning and rain prevented a result in Ireland's opening one-day game against Zimbabwe in Harare after the hosts had struggled to 121-6.

Graham Hume and Craig Young both picked up two wickets after Tinashe Kamunhukamwe's 28 had helped Zimbabwe reached 32-0 in 5.1 overs.

However, Hume dismissed the opener with Mark Adair taking the catch at mid-on.

Joylord Gumbie and Brandon Mavuta also hit 28, with the latter unbeaten, but the hosts' best stand was only 40.

That was put on by Mavuta and Madande (11), who was dismissed in the final ball before lightning led the umpires to take the players off the field.

Earlier, Gumbie was run out on 28 following a mix-up with Ryan Burl, who went for a duck next ball, edging behind, to leave the hosts 81-5.

As the lightning turned to driving rain, there was a delay of close to three hours before the decision was taken that a result would not be possible.

Game two in the series is scheduled for Friday at the Harare Sports Club, with the final match on Sunday, although the weather forecast for both those days is not promising.

The Irish are looking to follow up their Twenty20 series over Zimbabwe when they came back from losing the opener to clinch a 2-1 victory, which was Ireland's first series win in the African country.

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