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HARARE, Zimbabwe – In an extremely tight game, the home side did just enough to edge out the visitors in the second Youth ODI of the five-match series.
With a 9:15am start (local time) as well as slightly overcast conditions and a strong wind, Ireland opted to bowl first at Harare Sports Club.
There were three changes for Game Two. In came Thomas Ford, Alex Armstrong and Pete Le Roux for Ethan Marshall, Febin Manoj and Oliver Riley (who was rested) – with James West captaining.
Early on, Zimbabwe’s openers took a watchful approach. But Daniel Murray then got the first breakthrough in the thirteenth over thanks to a crucial catch by Sebastian Dijkstra.
Dijkstra then produced the second wicket in the 22nd over with a ripping top-spinner that just beat the outside edge of Kupakwashe Muradzi to crash into off stump.
The run out of Tatenda Banda in the 26th over via James West and Sebastian Dijkstra also kept Ireland in the hunt. Â
Zimbabwe reached 200-3 in the 40th over with a projected score of 251. However the next sixty balls saw 59 runs scored and 7 wickets fall.
Key moments included Alex Armstrong taking two wickets in the 41st over as well as one wicket for Reuben Wilson in the 47th over, bolstered by a run out off his own bowling from deepish midwicket.
Ireland lost Freddie Ogilby early on in their chase of 261. But Adam Leckey and James West then built a strong partnership of 56 until it was broken by Ryan Moyo.
West looked to settle in with new batter Robert O’Brien but was then removed by leg-spinner Brendon Senzere after offering a catch to deep square leg.
O’Brien now with the help of Sebastian Dijkstra (yes, that man again) kept Ireland’s hopes alive and looked to increase the scoring rate to match the run rate required.
Fortune had followed Dijkstra throughout the day and looked to bring Ireland across the line. However regular wickets and the rising rate hampered the progress of the chase.
Late boundaries from Thomas Ford and Alex Armstrong almost nearly kept hopes alive but it proved too much for the last wicket pair.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Under-19 Men v Zimbabwe Under-19 Men, 2nd Youth ODI, Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe – 5 April 2025
Zimbabwe 260 (49.3 over; K Blignaut 68; D Murray 3-26 A Armstrong 2-44)
Ireland 248 (49.5 overs; S Dijkstra 65 R O’Brien 42; R Moyo 3-42)
Zimbabwe Under-19s Men won by 12 runs
