Orla Prendergast shines again as Ireland whitewash Zimbabwe in five-match T20I series

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Ireland Women produced a scintillating comeback performance with the ball – at one point taking 6-7 in 17 balls - as they beat Zimbabwe by 14 runs in the final match to claim a 5-0 T20 International series victory.

Orla Prendergast was named Player of the Match for the second match in a row after scoring 42 runs and taking 3-24 with the ball. It was also a memorable day for 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Joanna Loughran who made her international debut - receiving her cap from her Leinster clubmate Ava Canning ahead of the game. 

Ireland was sent into bat after losing the toss and lost Amy Hunter (1) early on. However, Gaby Lewis (42) and Prendergast (42) combined for a 64-run partnership as Ireland set themselves up to post a competitive score. Lewis found the boundary seven times, whilst Prendergast took a more aerial route, striking three maximums, as the pair looked increasingly comfortable on a wearing pitch.

Zimbabwe, though, fought back with the ball and after removing Lewis, Prendergast, and Laura Delany (18), the visiting side struggled to finish the innings off, scrapping their way to 138-7. 

In reply, the home side - who gave a debut to 15-year-old Beloved Biza – went on the attack from ball one with the opening pair of captain Mary-Ann Musonda and exciting teenager Kelis Ndhlovu scoring 77 from the first 71 balls for the first wicket.  

Musonda, who played in Ireland last summer for the Scorchers in the Evoke Super Series, went on to score her fourth T20I half-century, however, Leah Paul finally made the breakthrough in the 12th over bowling Ndhlovu (32) - the hosts 77-1.  

Musonda tried to keep the run rate at the required rate until Prendergast made what became the decisive breakthrough, bowling Musonda for 52. The fall of the captain signaled the collapse of the Zimbabwean batting line-up, the home side going 99-1 to 106-7 in less than three overs. 

As the wickets tumbled, so did the run rate, and the Irish side went for the jugular with sharp fielding resulting in a run out - Prendergast’s pick up and throw from the deep beat the batter and effectively ended whatever outside chance Zimbabwe had remaining. It was fitting that captain Delany (3-17) capped off a memorable tour, bowling the last over and seeing out the 5-0 whitewash.

MATCH SUMMARY

Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women, 5th T20 International, Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, 2 February 2024

Ireland 138-7 (20 overs; G Lewis 42, O Prendergast 42; K Ndhlovu 3-20)

Zimbabwe 124-8 (20 overs; M Musonda 52, K Ndhlovu 32; L Delany 3-17) 

Ireland Women won by 14 runs