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HARARE, Zimbabwe – In yet another tight game with plenty of ebb and flow, Ireland finally got to taste victory on their first-ever tour to the African country.
For the final game of five-match Youth ODI series, these two sides met for the second time at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
There were two changes for the Irish playing XI. In came Ethan Marshall and Alex Armstrong to replace Febin Manoj and Sebastian Yeates.
We had a delayed start due to wet conditions at the ground, but eventually got underway undisturbed under overcast skies with 45 overs per innings.
Ireland near immediately saw the benefits of their decision to bowl first with early wickets for skipper Oliver Riley and Ethan Marshall.
There was then an almost twenty-over wait for the third which came courtesy of lovely drift and dip from Alex Armstrong that produced a leading edge and a catch to cover.
In the second half, Ireland found wickets much easier with three for Reuben Wilson, two for Thomas Ford, and then one each for Ethan Marshall, Daniel Murray and Seb Dijkstra.
For the second time in the series Ireland Under-19s Men had bowled out their hosts. But Ireland then found themselves in trouble early on with the loss of openers Freddie Ogilby and James West early on.
A third wicket shortly after almost looked to derail the chase until Adam Leckey consolidated the innings first with Sebastain Dijkstra and then Ethan Marshall.
With the dismissal of Marshall at 167-5, things could have taken another another turn. But Leckey continued to his excellent form to see Ireland home.
At the very end, Oliver Riley got to hit the winning runs which must have been very satisfying for the captain with some of the tight losses experienced in this five-match series.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Under-19 Men v Zimbabwe Under-19 Men, 5th Youth ODI, Takashinga Club, Zimbabwe – 12 April 2025
Zimbabwe 203 (42.1 overs; D Patel 79; R Wilson 3-32, T Ford 2-26)
Ireland 205-6 (42.2 overs; A Leckey 91*, E Marshall 41; K Madaramete 2-25)
Ireland Under-19s Men won by four wickets
Scorecard here.
