Impressive Ireland complete series whitewash

An impressive all-round display by Ireland saw them complete a convincing six-wicket win to take the series against Zimbabwe by three games to nil. Early wickets were yet again the key to the win, with Man of the Series Tim Murtagh (3-39) striking early blows, and with Shane Getkate, Mark Adair and Boyd Rankin all taking two wickets, Zimbabwe were restricted to just 190.

Sean William top scored with 67 as he attempted to salvage the early damage, and there were late runs from Mutumbani and Jarvis who made 28 apiece. The Irish were always in control of the chase, with James McCollum (54) scoring back-to-back half centuries as he and Paul Stirling added 60 for the opening stand.

Hamilton Masakadza bowled (©CricketEurope)

There was to be no magnificent seventh consecutive ODI half century for Stirling - edging behind for 32. Andy Balbirnie fell cheaply, but William Porterfield (49), and Kevin O'Brien (35*) all got runs as the six wicket win was sealed.

"What pleased us today was our general attitude – we went hard and once we were on top we never let off," said Porterfield after the game. "Murts [Tim Murtagh] just keeps doing it – at his age he knows what he's doing and what he has to do, it's just nice to have someone like that who you know is one of your bankers."

Mire bowled by Adair (©CricketEurope)

Porterfield made his 4,000th run in ODIs for Ireland, and the victory was his 50th ODI win as captain, but the milestones meant little to him in comparison to the series win. "Milestones are things maybe you might tick off, some things you might look back in years to come and be pleased with, but the series win 3-nil was the first real thing I was focussing on."

The attention now switches to T20I cricket with the teams meeting again at the same venue on Wednesday 10 July before two more at Bready on Friday 12 July and Sunday 14 July. The match on Wednseday 10 July was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.