Orla Prendergast sails Ireland to fourth T20I win in Harare

HARARE, Zimbabwe – A six from the second-last ball of the match from Orla Prendergast saw Ireland Women clinch a dramatic nine-wicket victory, in a rain-affected fourth T20 International against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.

Prendergast (27* off 15 balls) and Gaby Lewis (20* off 18 balls) scored an unbeaten second-wicket stand of 36 in a match played under lights - Ireland now leads 4-0 in the five-match series.

Following a delay of over two-and-a-half hours, the match - which was reduced to eight overs a side - got underway with Ireland making two changes from the side that wrapped up the series on Tuesday with Leah Paul and Ava Canning coming in for Freya Sargent and Alana Dalzell. 

Irish captain Laura Delany won the toss and elected to bowl first. Georgina Dempsey removed the dangerous Mary-Ann Musonda with the final ball of her first over with a full toss that the Zimbabwean captain hit straight to Gaby Lewis at point. 

Wickets fell at regular intervals – the most eye-catching being a run out by Cara Murray who dived to her right in her follow-through with her quick throw to Amy Hunter beating Chiedza Dhururu (12) who was caught short of the crease.  

Delany then bowled Nyasha Gwanzura with the final ball as the hosts finished on 65-5 from their eight overs. Hunter began the run-chase positively, slapping a short ball from spinner Precious Marange over cover for four, however, she fell on 19 with Ireland 34-1 after four overs.

Zimbabwe’s bowling made the chase challenging and teenage spinner Ndhlovu was given the task of bowling the final over - trying to defend nine runs. Lewis took three off the first two balls, before Prendergast calmly struck 10 runs off the next three balls, winning it with a maximum over midwicket.

The sides will play the final match of the series on Friday, 2 February. The match will also be played under lights, with a 4.30 pm start (Irish time) at the Harare Sports Club.

MATCH SUMMARY

Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women, 4th T20 International, Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, 1 February 2024

Zimbabwe 65-5 (8 overs: K Ndhlovu 17, C Dhururu 14; G Dempsey 1-3)

Ireland 70-1 (7.5 overs; O Prendergast 27*, G Lewis 20*; L Mabhero 1-6)

Ireland Women won by 9 wickets (DLS)