DUBLIN (Ireland), June 16: Captain Heath Streak returned to the Zimbabwe side on Sunday and inspired his under-fire side to a confidence-boosting eight-wicket win over Ireland at the Eglinton ground.

Streak, who was rested for Zimbabwe’s embarrassing 10-wicket defeat in Belfast on Friday, bowled a devastating spell to rip the heart out of the Irish top order.

Skipper Jason Molins, who scored an unbeaten century in the first match, won the toss and decided to bat but his decision backfired as his side were reduced to 36 for five.

Molins mis-timed an attempted pull off Streak to Douglas Hondo at mid-on before a run had been scored as the Zimbabwe captain took the first victim on his way to 3-16 from seven overs.

All-rounder Andy Blignaut took 2-32 before Peter Gillespie and Paul Mooney put on 62 for the eighth wicket before Gillespie was dismissed for 56 as the Irish limped to a total of 196.

Streak finished with 3-29 while Hondo had 3-53.

In reply, Dion Ebrahim and Doug Marillier put on 52 for the first wicket Stuart Carlisle made 49 in a second-wicket partnership of 82 with the opener.

Ebrahim, who finished unbeaten on 81, and the experienced Grant Flower (31) guided Zimbabwe home to victory with more than nine overs to spare.