BY JAYSON KARAN
The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team saw off the visiting Irish National Cricket Team by five wickets with twelve balls to spare in the first of the three match series the two ICC full members are engaged in.
Leg spinner Ryan Burl was the peak of the bowlers with figures of 3-29. Earlier on Zimbabwe had won the toss and elected to bowl first.
The Chevrons restricted the visitors to a lowly total of 144 all out after 19.2 overs.
Zim’s chase started off badly with the host losing the wickets of captain Irvine and Tadiwanashe Marumani. Craig Irvine fell in the first over when, he miscued a loft over mid-off to give Hary Tector his first wicket. Two balls later, Mark Adair trapped Tadiwanashe Marumani to leave Zimbabwe on 8 for 2, before Gary Ballance and Wessly Madhevere steadied the innings.
The pair added thirty-five on the board but Madhevere waa next to go in the 8th over. Ballance added another twenty eight runs alongside veteran Sean Williams who remanded unbeaten with 34 runs.
Williams remained on the crease after he was joined by Clive Madande who finished with eighteen runs.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday and Sunday in the ongoing T20 Internationals in Harare.