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MARY-ANNE Musonda’s unbeaten half-century today powered Zimbabwe Women to a six-wicket win over Ireland Women in the women’s quadrangular series underway in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Chasing 210, Zimbabwe had appeared in trouble after they were reduced to 86 for four in the 25th over, but Musonda and Sharne Mayers shared a mammoth and unbroken stand of 125 that clinched the famous victory.

Musonda’s unbeaten knock of 65 was crafted off 90 deliveries and it included 10 boundaries, while Mayers hit three fours on her way to 46 not-out off the 70 balls she faced. Loreen Tshuma got the chase in motion with lots of promise, flicking the second ball of the first over through the square leg area to the boundary, before sweeping the fourth delivery to deep square leg for another four.

Zimbabwe suffered a setback in the seventh over when her fellow opening batter, Chipo Mugeri, was clean-bowled for 12 by Rachel Delaney, leaving them on 31 for one.

Ten overs later, Anesu Mushangwe was also clean-bowled, this time by Shauna Kavanagh, having chipped in with 14 runs off 31 deliveries; 63 for two. Kavanagh struck again in the 19th over, reducing Zimbabwe to 72 for three when she trapped Tshuma lbw to end her innings for 25 runs — she faced 52 balls and carted five of them to the rope. When Modester Mupachikwa was stumped for nine in the 25th over, leaving the total on 86 for four, there were fears the innings was about to crumble. But Musonda clearly had other ideas — she joined Mayers and, as they say, the rest is now history. Zimbabwe had won the toss and put Ireland in to bat first.

Kavanagh top-scored with 53 as Zimbabwe dismissed the Irish for 209 after 46.1 overs. Precious Marange starred with the ball, claiming four wickets for 32 runs in 8.1 overs, while Josephine Nkomo and Musonda picked two each.

Zimbabwe, who lost to South Africa by eight wickets in their first match of the quadrangular series on Sunday, will face India in their next game today.

Scores

Ireland Women – 209 in 46.1 overs (Shauna Kavanagh 53, Leah Paul 33, Jennifer Gray 24; Precious Marange 4 /32, Josephine Nkomo 2/ 31, Mary-Anne Musonda 2/ 31)

Zimbabwe Women – 211-4 in 47 overs (Mary-Anne Musonda 65*, Sharne Mayers 46*, Loreen Tshuma 25; Rachel Delaney 2/ 21, Shauna Kavanagh 2/ 47)

Zimbabwe Women won by six wickets — Zimcricket.