Ben Curran’s Stunning Ton Powers Zimbabwe To Series-clinching Win Over Ireland In 3rd ODI

Zimbabwe capped off their three-match ODI series against Ireland in style, delivering a commanding nine-wicket victory in the third and deciding match at the Harare Sports Club. After restricting the visitors to 240/6, Zimbabwe chased down the target with remarkable ease, finishing at 246/1 in just 39.3 overs. The victory sealed the series 2-1, marking a significant triumph for the hosts.

The match was defined by a magnificent century from Ben Curran and a fluent innings from Craig Ervine, who ensured that Zimbabwe cruised to the target with minimal fuss. For Ireland, despite some solid middle-order contributions, their bowlers failed to make an impact, allowing Zimbabwe’s batters to dominate.

Ireland Set a Competitive But Insufficient Total

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Ireland aimed to put up a challenging total on the board. However, despite some impressive batting performances, they ended up with a somewhat underwhelming score of 240/6 in their 50 overs.

Their innings was anchored by Andy Balbirnie, who played a patient knock of 64 off 99 balls. While Balbirnie held one end, Ireland struggled to accelerate the scoring rate early on, with Zimbabwe’s bowlers keeping a tight lid on the proceedings.

Key Contributions from the Irish Batters

Andy Balbirnie (64 off 99 balls) – Provided stability but struggled to push the run rate.
Harry Tector (51 off 60 balls) – Played an aggressive hand in the middle order.
Lorcan Tucker (61 off 55 balls) – Injected momentum into the innings with his attacking stroke play.
Mark Adair (26 off 18 balls)* – Finished strongly, ensuring Ireland crossed the 240-run mark.

Despite these contributions, Ireland’s inability to capitalize in the death overs proved costly. While Tucker and Tector injected some much-needed urgency, Zimbabwe’s bowlers executed their death-over plans to perfection, preventing Ireland from posting a truly imposing total.

Zimbabwe’s Bowlers Shine Under Pressure

Zimbabwe’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, ensuring that Ireland never got out of hand with their scoring. They struck at regular intervals, preventing Ireland from building a large partnership that could have changed the game.

Key Bowling Performances

Richard Ngarava (2/42 in 10 overs) – Led the attack with precision, keeping the Irish batters in check.
Trevor Gwandu (2/44 in 9 overs) – Bowled with discipline and extracted movement off the pitch.
Blessing Muzarabani (1/47 in 10 overs) – Contained runs effectively and picked up a key wicket.
Wellington Masakadza (1/37 in 10 overs) – Provided crucial middle-over breakthroughs.

Ngarava and Gwandu were especially effective, breaking partnerships and preventing Ireland from gaining momentum. Their combined efforts meant that Ireland’s projected total of 270-280 was cut short, giving Zimbabwe a much easier target to chase.

Ben Curran’s Century Seals an Easy Win for Zimbabwe

With a modest target of 241 to chase, Zimbabwe’s top order ensured that there was no room for drama. From the outset, the batters looked in complete control, dominating the Irish bowling attack with a mix of elegant stroke play and aggressive shot selection.

At the heart of Zimbabwe’s chase was Ben Curran, who played a magnificent, unbeaten knock of 118 off 130 balls. His innings was a masterclass in patience, precision, and controlled aggression, ensuring that Zimbabwe never faltered in their pursuit of victory.

Key Highlights of Zimbabwe’s Chase

Brian Bennett (48 off 48 balls) – Provided a solid opening partnership with Curran, setting the tone.
Ben Curran (118 off 130 balls)* – Anchored the innings beautifully, ensuring no hiccups.
Craig Ervine (69 off 59 balls)* – Played an attacking innings, finishing the chase in style.

Zimbabwe reached the target in just 39.3 overs, displaying a dominant batting performance that left Ireland helpless.

“It was a fantastic team effort. The bowlers set it up for us, and then the batters executed the chase perfectly,” said Curran after being named Player of the Match for his match-winning innings.

Ireland’s Bowling Woes Continue

For Ireland, the bowling attack struggled to create any impact, failing to apply pressure on Zimbabwe’s batters.

Irish Bowling Performance

Graham Hume (1/39 in 7 overs) – The only bowler to pick a wicket.
Mark Adair (0/54 in 9 overs) – Expensive and ineffective.
Andy McBrine (0/47 in 10 overs) – Struggled to contain runs.

The lack of penetration in the pace attack and the inability to build pressure meant that Zimbabwe cruised to the target with ease.

Series Victory: A Big Boost for Zimbabwe Cricket

With this emphatic win, Zimbabwe clinched the series 2-1, marking a significant achievement for the team. After losing the second ODI, they bounced back strongly, displaying character, skill, and resilience.

This series win is a huge boost for Zimbabwean cricket, showcasing their ability to compete and dominate against quality teams.

Key Takeaways from the Series

✅ Ben Curran’s Form – The left-hander was Zimbabwe’s standout performer with his match-winning century.
✅ Bowling Discipline – The hosts’ bowlers executed their plans well, particularly in crucial moments.
✅ Team Balance – The perfect blend of youth and experience helped Zimbabwe emerge victorious.

For Ireland, this defeat will serve as a learning experience. While their batting was steady, their bowling lacked bite, and they will need to regroup and reassess ahead of their next challenge.

What’s Next for Both Teams?

Zimbabwe 🏏

This series win gives them momentum ahead of their upcoming assignments.
They will look to build on this victory and climb the ICC rankings.

Ireland 🏏

Their batting depth looks promising, but their bowling needs improvement.
They will need to work on their bowling strategies before their next ODI series.

Final Thoughts: A Commanding Statement from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s nine-wicket win in the final ODI was a statement victory, showcasing their growing confidence and dominance. Ben Curran’s unbeaten century, Craig Ervine’s aggressive knock, and a disciplined bowling performance ensured that Zimbabwe clinched the series in emphatic fashion.

With this 2-1 series win, Zimbabwe have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with in ODI cricket. If they continue building on this momentum, bigger victories could be on the horizon.

For now, Zimbabwean cricket fans can celebrate this well-earned triumph, as the team looks ahead to greater challenges and bigger milestones in the coming months.

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