Murtagh five wicket haul seals series win against Zimbabwe

Tim Murtagh claimed a maiden international five wicket haul to lead Ireland to a dramatic five-run win against Zimbabwe, sealing their first series win against a Full Member. Murtagh struck three early blows as Zimbabwe chased 242, dismissing openers Hamilton Mazakadza and Solomon Mire, as well as trapping the influential Brendan Taylor lbw first ball to leave them 14 for 3.

They rallied with Sean Williams sharing half century stands with Craig Ervine (43) and Sikandar Raza (31), but when Williams became Murtagh's fourth wicket, pulling a short ball to Andy Balbirnie at midwicket, it seemed the revival was over. When Richard Mutumbani edged Shane Getkate behind, the board read 160 for 7 and it looked as if it would be a routine win.

Into the leg side from McCollum (©CricketEurope)

However, yet again Zimbabwe dug deep and with Ryan Burl (53) and Donald Tirpano (33) sharing an enterprising 8th wicket stand of 69, Zimbabwe were at the start of the 49th over favourites for the first time, with 15 needed from the final 12 balls. Murtagh though showed all his guile as he conceded just a single as well as bowling Tiripano for his fifth wicket and the first 'Michelle' in Irish colours.

Mark Adair was entrusted with the crucial final over with 14 needed, and held his nerve to seal a five run win - Ryan Burl run out by an excellent combination of Shane Getkate from the boundary and an impressive dive to the stumps by Lorcan Tucker, again preferred to Gary Wilson. Earlier, it was the Pembroke man who held the Irish innings together after they had threatened to squander an excellent start.

Murtagh traps Taylor in front first ball (©CricketEurope)

James McCollum's first half century for Ireland had saw he and Paul Stirling - who scored his sixth consecutive fifty - add 111 for the first wicket after Ireland had been put in. However, wickets thereafter fell at regular intervals including McCollum, who top-scored with 73 from 92 balls, hitting 11 boundaries.

Solomon Mire's golden arm threatened to totally derail the innings, but Tucker hit 7 boundaries in his 56 from 52 balls to get then to 242, which in the end was just about enough. "We always felt we'd have to bowl well to make 243 a winning score, we were a bit disappointed we hadn't finished 260 or 270," said Murtagh after the game.

"Generally I thought the bowling and fielding display was excellent to keep them below that, so it was nervy in the end – but that's 50-over cricket when you score 240 to 250, it'll often go down to the wire. "It was important for us to win a close one. It's massive, a series win is rare, we haven't had many in the last 7 or 8 years. To be 2-0 up after with one to play – there's some happy people in the dressing room. We also just spoke of the determination to finish the job on Sunday and go three-nil up."