Zimbabwe do the double

Ireland suffered a second defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in the Quadrangular Tournament in Potchefstroom going down by 5 wickets.

Ireland could not repeat their run scoring efforts of the first match versus the same opponents when they topped 200. Today they managed only 150 and while 8 players got into double figures only one of them, number 10 bat Lara Maritz got to 20. Her 26 was a show of late order defiance and contained 5 boundaries in a last wicket partnership of 39 with Aoife Beggs that added a degree of respectability to an Ireland total where in fact Extras was the top scorer with 29.

Tasmeen Granger was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers with 4-24 which earned her the MOM prize.

Louise Little's early strike removing Loren Tshuma for only 5 could not be replicated, and the second wicket partnership of 70 between Chipo Mugeri (42) and Modester Mupachikwa (37) took the total beyond half way to the required 151. Another partnership of 44 for the third wicket involving Anesu Mushangwa (39) saw Zimbabwe almost to the line and even a couple of quick wickets did nothing to halt their progress.

Ireland play South Africa for a second time on Friday 19th. and whether that game puts them in the correct frame of mind for Sunday's 3rd / 4th play-off with Zimbabwe is anyone's guess.

Consolation for Ireland will be that despite the two losses against Zimbabwe they know that a win on Sunday will place them 3rd, a situation that Zimbabwe will be determined not to allow to happen.