Zimbabwe v Ireland: Orla Prendergast leads Irish to unassailable 3-0 lead in T20 series
- Published
Orla Prendergast was Player of the Game in the Ireland win over Zimbabwe
Third Twenty20 international, Harare |
Ireland 169-3 (20 overs): Prendergast 69, Delany 54; Tshuma 1-29 |
Zimbabwe 109-7 (20 overs): Ndlovu 36, Tshuma 25; Little 2-8 |
Ireland won by 60 runs |
Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 60 runs to win the third T20 international in Harare and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five match series.
After winning the toss and electing to bat Ireland made 169-3 before restricting the hosts to 109-7.
Ireland's Orla Prendergast top-scored with 69 off only 48 balls as she shared a third-wicket partnership of 86 with captain Laura Delany.
Ireland also clinched the ODI series between the two sides last week.
The tourists recovered from losing the early wicket of Gaby Lewis to the fifth ball of the innings with only a single on the scoreboard.
Amy Hunter and Prendergast then set about the hosts' bowling attack putting on 66 before Hunter was dismissed for the first time in the series in the 10th over.
Belfast teenager Hunter had followed up her maiden T20 century - 101 not out - in the opening match with an unbeaten 77 in Sunday's game.
She had already smashed seven fours and reached 42 off 29 balls before falling to Loreen Tshuma.
Delany joined Prendergast at the crease with both players scoring freely. After Prendergast was out in the penultimate over, Delany rounded the innings off with a flourish, hitting 16 off the final over to complete an unbeaten half-century.
Prendergast showed her all-rounder capabilities as she took the wicket of Mary-Anne Musonda in the third over and some excellent containment in the middle overs from the bowling of Alana Dalzell and Cara Murray reduced Zimbabwe to 58-3 at the halfway point and well behind the required run-rate.
Louise Little chipped in with a couple of wickets and helped run out Christine Mutasa, the final wicket to fall, as Zimbabwe came up well short of their target.
Kelis Ndhlovu top-scored for the home side with 36. The fourth match of the series will be played on Thursday before the final fixture on Friday.