Tony Munyonga scored an unbeaten 43, leading Zimbabwe to a three-wicket victory over Ireland in Harare, giving Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the T20 series. After Ireland posted 137-8, Zimbabwe successfully chased down the target, reaching 141-7 with four balls to spare. The final match of the series is set for Tuesday.
An impressive unbeaten performance by Tony Munyonga, who scored 43 runs, led Zimbabwe to a three-wicket victory over Ireland in a Twenty20 match held in Harare. This win gives Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the series, with one match remaining. Although rain caused a temporary halt in play, Ireland ended their innings at 137-8, largely thanks to a solid partnership between Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector, who contributed 53 runs for the second wicket after an early dismissal of opener Paul Stirling.
In response, Zimbabwe achieved a total of 141-7, successfully chasing down the target with four balls left. The final match of the series is scheduled for Tuesday, following the abandonment of the first match due to inclement weather. Zimbabwe’s Captain Sikandar Raza expressed his satisfaction with Munyonga’s performance. “I’m really happy for Tony. He is one of our leading scorers in domestic cricket and I’m delighted that he was judged man of the match,” he remarked.
Raza highlighted Munyonga’s composure and skill in finding gaps and running well on the field. Conversely, Ireland’s captain, Paul Stirling, reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging that they did not finish their innings effectively. He stated, “There was a great knock by the player of the match,” indicating appreciation for Munyonga’s efforts.
The match saw significant contributions from Zimbabwe’s bowlers, particularly medium pacer Trevor Gwandu, who claimed three wickets, while off-spinner Raza and fast bowler Richard Ngarava each took two wickets. Ireland’s batting order struggled, with Curtis Campher being the only other batsman to make a noteworthy contribution, reaching double figures after the team lost the toss.
Zimbabwe’s innings was rocky at the beginning, as they stumbled to 14-3 following quick wickets. However, Raza and Ryan Burl provided a crucial 48-run partnership to stabilize the innings. Despite losing both batsmen in rapid succession, Munyonga’s performance proved instrumental, and he hit five fours in his 30-ball innings. Ultimately, he fell just short of setting a career-best T20 international score, finishing two runs shy of that milestone.
The victory against Ireland places Zimbabwe in a favorable position in the T20 series, leading 1-0 with one match left to contest. Tony Munyonga’s exceptional performance was pivotal in securing the win, showcasing his talent on an international stage. Meanwhile, Ireland will seek to rectify their performance in the upcoming final match, aiming to level the series. The match was a display of resilience from Zimbabwe, overcoming early setbacks to ultimately seize the victory.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
