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Sports Reporter
IT was not the way Zimbabwe would have loved to win but the scrappy two wicket victory gave the Chevrons a 1-0 lead against Ireland in the first of three One Day Internationals at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

A more clinical performance was expected, but if the truth be told this was always a game that was set to be close and, that’s exactly what happened.

The history of the duels between the two teams is littered with close contests and, even after Zimbabwe appeared to have had the upper hand when they fielded, the reality is that the chase was never a comfortable one.

They lost eight wickets along the way and scrapped, home thanks to half centuries from man-of-the-match Sikanda Raza-Butt’s unbeaten 60 and Craig Ervine’s 60.

Winning the toss and electing to field on a slow wicket, Zimbabwe restricted the visitors to 219/8 in their allotted 50 overs, the fourth wicket partnership of Gary Wilson (unbeaten on 70 off 88 with four fours) and Ed Joyce (53 off 88 with two fours and a six) breathing life into Ireland’s batting.

Butt said what was important yesterday was to win.

“Of course that was an ugly win. What most people see is just us taking a 1-0 lead but this win will work wonders for us.

“The important thing was to get the runs on the board for us and the win will bring us closer as a team.

“The win will help build confidence in our side and that is important because as our captain said we need to be clinical and win all the games in this series and also win all the next seven games against Afghanistan.

“Our target is to win all our ten games against these two sides and this 1-0 win gets us close together and brings the belief within the team, making it easy to work together and win the series,” he said.

John Nyumbu (2-35) and debutante Wellington Masakadza (2-45) emerged as the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers as they both picked two wickets apiece with Masakadza impressing on debut for the senior team.

Tinashe Panyangara, Like Jongwe, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, and Sean Williams took a wicket each.

Zimbabwe had made several changes to the side that took on Pakistan at the same venue on Monday, Brian Chari had to watch from the pavilion having made his debut in the last game against Pakistan, Wellington Masakadza came in as a bowler while Ervine bounced back after having missed on the Pakistan tour.

Wellington’s elder brother Hamilton was dropped having failed to perform in the Pakistan series,

Having lost their last two internationals against Ireland – the last being their defeat at the World Cup early this year – Zimbabwe were under pressure to perform and yesterday’s win just took some weight off their shoulders.

Scorecard

Toss Zimbabwe

Ireland Innings

Porterfield* c Masakadza b Chibhabha 9

Stirling c Sikandar Raza b Panyangara 24

Joyce c Chigumbura b Nyumbu 53

Balbirnie c Masakadza b Jongwe 5

Wilson† not out 70

O’Brien c Waller b Nyumbu 6

Thompson lbw b Williams 1

Mooney c Jongwe b Masakadza 5

Dockrell st †Mutumbami b Masakadza 1

McBrine not out 3

Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 7) 12

Total (8 wickets; 50 overs) 219

Did not bat: TJ Murtagh

F-o-W: 1-36 (Stirling, 8.1 ov), 2-39 (Porterfield, 9.5 ov), 3-54 (Balbirnie, 16.6 ov), 4-137 (Joyce, 35.3 ov), 5-158 (O’Brien, 39.3 ov), 6-160 (Thompson, 40.6 ov), 7-172 (Mooney, 43.6 ov), 8-176 (Dockrell, 45.2 ov)

Bowling: Panyangara 7-1-25-1 (1w); Jongwe 7-0-45-1-(3w); Chibhabha 7-1-19-1; Nyumbu 10-0-35-2 (1w); Masakadza 10-0-45-2; Williams 9-0-45-1 (2w).

Zimbabwe Innings

Chamu C c Murtagh b McBrine 22

Richie M† c McBrine b Mooney 9

Ervine c McBrine b Mooney 60

Williams st †Wilson b Dockrell 24

Elton C c †Wilson b Dockrell 16

Raza-Butt not out 60

Waller c Thomposon b Murtagh 1

Jongwe run out Joyce/McBrine 5

Masakadza run out (Joyce/Poterfield) 10

Panyangara not out 8

Extras (lb5, w2) 7

Total (8 wickets; 49overs) 222

F-o-W: 1-17 (Mutumbami, 4.2 ov), 2-44 (Chibhabha, 8.6 ov), 3-98 (Williams 20.3ov), 4-124 (Chigumbura 26.2ov), 5-152 (Ervine, 33.5 ov), 6-161 (Waller, 36.6 ov), 7-171 (Jongwe, 39.4 ov), 8-209 (Masakadza 46.3ov)

Bowling: Mooney 5-1-24-1; Murtagh 10-0-52-1; McBrine 10-0-53-2; Stirling 10-0-35-0; Dockrell 10-0-29-0; O’Brein 4-0-24-0.