Andy Balbirnie heroics lead Ireland to ODI series win over Zimbabwe

Ireland limited their hosts to 197 off 40 overs thanks to good bowling from Curtis Campher and Graham Hume in Harare before

Balbirnie guided his team to victory as they chased down their adjusted target of 201 with 13 balls to spare.

Ireland started brightly when Hume dismissed Tinashe Kamunhukamwe in the second over and Zimbabwe struggled to find any rhythm as Takudzwanashe Kaitano was run out before Campher trapped Innocent Kaia lbw.

Following a lengthy rain delay Joylord Gumbie and Sikandar Raza did well to drag Zimbabwe back into the contest with a 69-run partnership, but Campher struck twice in the 28th over, taking captain Raza’s wicket before bowling new batter Clive Madande for a duck.

Gumbie finished with a top score of 72 before being run out and Wellington Masakadza’s entertaining 24 off 19 helped Zimbabwe add more runs in the final overs, but Campher and Hume took four wickets each to dismiss the hosts.

Blessing Muzarabani struck straight away as Ireland captain Paul Stirling fell for eight, but Balbirnie and Campher smashed 70 off 84 balls to pile on the pressure before the latter fell for 40.

Harry Tector added a valuable 33 before Luke Jongwe took his wicket, but Lorcan Tucker put on 29 alongside Balbirnie, hitting back-to-back boundaries to clinch victory as Ireland finished on 204 for three.

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