Zimbabwe Crash To Defeat In Ireland


By Paul Bakel
June 15 2003

Zimbabwe's disastrous tour took a turn for the worse at Stormont as an unbeaten century from Jason Molins helped Ireland record a 10-wicket victory.

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Zimbabwe Crash To Defeat In Ireland

Zimbabwe's disastrous tour took a turn for the worse at Stormont as an unbeaten century from Jason Molins helped Ireland record a 10-wicket victory.

The tourists, who rested captain Heath Streak, suffered a humiliation as Ireland secured their best result since they famously bowled the West Indies out for 25 in 1969.

Zimbabwe looked on course for a low total as they slipped to 12 for three after a devastating opening spell from Gary Neely and Paul Mooney.

But for a defiant 96-run fourth-wicket partnership between Dion Ebrahim (52) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (50), which allowed the tourists to reach a respectable 182 all out, Zimbabwe would have been out for under 100.

Neely returned to finish off the tourists' tail, ending up with three wickets for just 30 runs as the last four Zimbabwe players fell for 22 runs.

South African Andre Botha returned impressive figures of two wickets for just 39 runs off his nine overs, but the star of the Irish bowling display was Mooney, who conceded 19 runs for two wickets from his eight over spell.

Zimbabwe's stand-in captain Tatenda Taibu followed on his resilient performances from his side's Test matches with England, making a battling 35, but the final total always appeared under threat.

Ireland raced away with Molins' devastating stroke play helping the hosts average 5.4 per over against a side who made the Super Sixes at this year's World Cup, while Australian Jeremy Bray provided him with capable support.

Zimbabwe struggled to contain the Irish with fast bowler Douglas Hondo receiving the brunt of their free hitting as he conceded 37 runs from his seven expensive overs.

Ireland reached their target with 17 overs to spare with man-of-the-match Molins top-scoring with an impressive 107.

Bray, who plays his club cricket with Molins at Dublin-based Phoenix, was the junior partner but still played a key role to reach an unbeaten 67 with a flurry of boundaries.

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