Taibu, Dabengwa star in Zimbabwe win
Zimbabwe swept aside Ireland with a convincing 156-run thumping in the first ODI of the Kenya Tri-Series in Nairobi. In pursuit of a challenging 303, Ireland lost their first four wickets inside 14 overs - a position from which they could never mount a serious chase, despite an entertaining 38 from the in-form Kevin O'Brien.
It was an important win for Zimbabwe, especially since they were easily beaten by the might of Uganda yesterday. Today, they justified their Full Member status against one of the leading Associates.
Elton Chigumbura led the attack with verve; surprisingly, his new-ball partner was Prosper Utseya, whose offspin and flighted deliveries frustrated Ireland. Niall O'Brien and Gary Wilson both fell to Chigumbura's short-of-a-length attack, and for all the Zimbabweans' admirable discipline, there was less on evidence by Ireland. This was no better exemplified than by William Porterfield's careless slap off Utseya.
At the halfway stage Ireland had tripped to 72 for 6, but there was a brief period of forlorn entertainment when Kevin O'Brien took three huge sixes off 20-year-old Timycen Maruma, each hammer blow clearing the long-on and long-off boundaries with ease. He lost his wicket attempting a fourth off Keith Dabengwa.
Ireland nearly survived all 50 overs, but struggled against Ray Price whose ten overs went for just seven runs - the most economical figures by any Zimbabwean in ODIs. Dabengwa mopped up with 3 for 17 from six tidy and controlled overs.
It was Zimbabwe's batsmen who set up the win, however. Hamilton Masakadza was again in terrific form, lacing 72 from 66 to form a solid opening partnership of 71 with Cephas Zhuwawo. Both Peter Connell and Boyd Rankin, one of Ireland's rising hopes, were treated with disdain; they bowled too short too often. Crucially, Zimbabwe never panicked or lost concentration in the usually sticky middle overs; Tatenda Taibu and Chamu Chibhabha grafted 102 in 21.1 overs of intelligent batting.
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