Six of the best for Murray as Ireland win ODI series

Six of the best for Murray as Ireland win ODI series against Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Cara Murray became the first Ireland Women’s cricketer to take six wickets in a One-Day International as Ireland Women secured a 2-0 ODI series victory following a dominate bowling display, as the visitors beat Zimbabwe Women by 81 runs in their final game of the series at the Harare Sports Club.

(Cricket news) After being bowled out for what seemed a moderate total of 180, Ireland stormed back with the ball, with Belfast-born Murray taking her career-best ODI bowling figures of 6-31. Ireland made one change from the side that tied the second game of the series, with Georgina Dempsey coming in for Freya Sargent.

After being sent into bat first, the Irish side soon found themselves 17-2 with both Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter back in the pavilion, before Leah Paul (27) and Orla Prendergast (41) combined for a stabilising stand of 46.

Ireland’s middle order then collapsed, losing five wickets for the addition of just 60 runs to be 123-7 and appearing in all sorts of trouble – the Zimbabwean spinners Lindokuhle Mabhero, Loreen Tshuma, Precious Marange, and Kelis Ndhlovu doing the damage.

However, the Irish lower-order battled hard and a 31-run eighth-wicket partnership between Ava Canning and Dempsey, followed by a 21-run tenth-wicket stand from Murray and Jane Maguire, helped Ireland post a total of 180.

Needing an early breakthrough, Ireland got exactly what they were looking for, when Canning removed Mujaji (5) in the fourth over, before Arlene Kelly then forced a mistake by Dhururu as Zimbabwe were 29-2 after 13 overs. After eight overs of relative calm, the momentum shifted in Ireland’s favour in the 21^st over when Murray removed the Zimbabwean captain Mary-Anne Musonda for 23. With Ireland’s bowling unit restricting the flow of runs, on what looked a tricky batting track, Zimbabwe soon found themselves in trouble at 74-5 after 25 overs.

Murray, aided by captain Laura Delany, finished off the Zimbabwean tail as Ireland won comfortably in the end by 81 runs – dismissing the home side in just the 31^st over. The sides will move on to the five-match T20I series, which begins on Friday 26 January, starting at 11am Irish time at the same venue.

MATCH SUMMARY

Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women, 3rd One Day International, Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, 23 January 2024

Ireland 180 (48.1 overs; O Prendergast 41, L Paul 27; L Tshuma 2-27)

Zimbabwe 99 (30.5 overs; A Ndiraya 25, M Musonda 23; C Murray 6-31)

Ireland Women won by 81 runs

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