HARARE: Josh Little claimed a national-record six wickets for 36 and Curtis Campher hit a brisk 66 as Ireland beat Zimbabwe by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in a One-day International series in Harare on Friday.

Having won the toss and opted to bat first, Zim­babwe slumped to 70-6 before a middle-order revi­val led by Wellington Masa­kadza (40) saw the hosts all out for 166 in 42.5 overs.

Seamer Little, who was later named man-of-the-match, wreaked havoc in the fourth over, claiming three wickets off five deliveries at the Harare Sports Club.

He dismissed Zimbabwe star Sikandar Raza, deputising as captain for injured Craig Ervine, soon after for just two.

Ireland lost Andy Balbirnie to a golden duck and fellow opener and captain Paul Stirling (14) fell cheaply as the visitors stumbled to 29-2 in an innings briefly halted by rain.

Campher then took cha­rge, striking 10 fours off 71 balls, and stands of 52 with Harry Tector and 43 with Lorcan Tucker set up the tourists to reach 170-6 with 59 balls remaining.

Victory gave Ireland the lead in the three-match series after the first was abandoned due to rain on Wednesday. The final ODI match is scheduled for Sunday.

Summarised scores:

ZIMBABWE 166 in 42.5 overs (W. Masakadza 40, R. Burl 38, C. Madande 33; J. Little 6-36); IRELAND 170-6 in 40.1 overs (C. Campher 66, L. Tucker 28, M. Adair 25 not out; B. Muzarabani 2-23, B. Mavuta 2-37).

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2023