Ireland A take 1-0 lead in Harare after 212-run win
IRELAND A beat Zimbabwe A by 212 runs in the first four-day match at Harare Sports Club on Sunday. They lead the two-match series 1-0.
Zimbabwe A needed 470 to win and were bowled out for 257 on the final day. Dion Myers top-scored with 97.
Ireland A had been in front since the first innings. Wicketkeeper Ben Calitz (80) and Gavin Hoey (78) helped them recover from 238 for six to 424. Zimbabwe A replied with 261. Takudzwanashe Kaitano made 108 not out in that innings, and no other batter passed 46.
Ireland A had a lead of 163 but did not enforce the follow-on. In their second innings, Cade Carmichael scored 151 not out and Tim Tector 105, putting on 224 for the fourth wicket. The visitors declared on 306 for six.
Ireland A captain Matthew Humphreys was the leading wicket-taker in the match, with six for 124. Hoey took five for 119 to go with his first-innings 78. Byron McDonough, who made his first-class debut in the match, took three wickets.
For Zimbabwe A, Myers scored 143 runs across the two innings. Kaitano made 129. Former national Under-19 bowler Shelton Mazvitorera took five wickets for 115. Tinotenda Maposa took three, all in the first innings.
Trevor Gwandu was absent hurt in Zimbabwe A’s second innings.
The second four-day match runs from 12 to 15 November at the same venue. A five-match one-day series follows.
