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Ireland Women and Zimbabwe Women meet in their first-ever official one-day international series this month after the ICC granted the Zimbabwean side ODI status in April this year. A hotly contested set of fixtures is expected, where both sides will be aiming to maximise their opportunities to play and train in conditions they will return to next month for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Global Qualifier.
The series will also be Ireland Women’s first ODI series since hosting New Zealand in the summer of 2018.

Conditions in Harare are expected to be hot and humid, with temperatures around 30 degrees throughout the series.

Ireland

Ireland Women haven’t played a one-day international for just over three years but enter this series with confidence after a largely positive 2021 in T20I cricket. Series’ wins against Scotland and Netherlands at home were lauded, particularly for the way the young squad gelled at international level despite missing some of their biggest stars, but a slip-up in the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier saw them finish second to Scotland and miss out on automatic qualification to the Global Qualifier (however, Ireland are still expected to progress after global rankings are confirmed on 30 November where a 10th placed ranking should see them offered a lifeline through as the ‘next highest-ranked side’ who didn’t automatically qualify).

The 2021 season has unearthed some new gems in the international set-up, allowed some of Ireland’s more experienced players to show their undoubted quality on the global stage – and we were reminded of the leadership qualities of Laura Delany throughout, not only contributing with both bat and ball but becoming Ireland’s longest-serving captain during the summer.

Four members of the current touring squad (Shauna Kavanagh, Sophie MacMahon, Cara Murray, and Mary Waldron) played in the 2018 series between these two sides – a series that saw Waldron deputise as captain in Delany’s absence, and Kavanagh strike her highest international score of 79* during the first one-day match.

Key players
Despite still only being 20-years of age, the experience and talent of Gaby Lewis will be crucial to capitalise on. At the end of August, she became Ireland’s first women’s T20I centurion, played for Southern Brave in “The Hundred” and Southern Vipers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy-winning side. Lewis likes to dominate early from the top of the order and has shown at Super Series level that she can score heavily in the 50-over format. During this season’s Super 50 Cup, Lewis hit 332 runs at an average of 66.40 (almost twice the aggregate runs as the next best batter), with a century and three half-centuries all while maintaining a strike rate of 93.26. She struck a remarkable 48 boundaries during the season, with the next highest by a batter in the competition being 15.

Expect the ever-positive captain Delany to feature with both bat and ball on what are expected to be good pitches, the experienced Shauna Kavanagh to make up for missing the recent T20 qualifier through illness, and the rising star Orla Prendergast – returning from a minor injury – to further her growing international reputation.

Perhaps, though, the most exciting aspect for Irish fans is getting the chance to see the newer faces stepping up on the international stage. The absence of players such as Richardson, Lara Maritz, and Ava Canning has given a number of emerging players the chance to show their talent and gain some invaluable experience.

Ireland’s squad:
Laura Delany (captain), Zara Craig, Georgina Dempsey, Sarah Forbes, Amy Hunter, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Celeste Raack, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Women enter this series having just recently won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, putting them through to the Global Qualifier in 2022. They went unbeaten in the tournament winning all seven of their games, however, their 50-over form this year has been mixed. In August, the Chevrons drew 2-2 in a one-day series against Thailand at home, while they were beaten 5-0 by a South Africa Emerging side in May.

However, on home turf the Zimbabweans are a handful and will be up for the challenge as they too prepare for the Global Qualifier in November.

Key players
While opening batter Modester Mupachikwa (who scored 162 runs at an average of 55.66 In the recent T20 qualifier tournament) and off-spinner Loryn Phiri (who took 16 wickets at an average of 3.87 and finished as the qualifier tournament’s top wicket-taker) are in good form, look for performances of note from 38-years old Precious Marange. Marange featured strongly with both bat and ball during the 2018 series between these two sides, and recently struck an eye-catching 66 from 76 balls against Thailand which included 5 fours and 2 sixes. During the recent qualifier tournament with the ball she claimed 8 wickets at an average of just 7.63, and hit a Player of the Match-winning 40 from 25 balls against Uganda.

Possible Zimbabwe Squad:
Mary-Anne Musonda (captain), Modester Mupachikwa, Josephine Nkomo, Ashley Ndiraya, Loryn Phiri, Nomvelo Sibanda, Precious Marange, Chiedza Dhururu, Tasmeen Granger, Audrey Mazvishaya, Esther Mbofana, Loreen Tshuma, Pelagia Mujaji, Nyasha Gwanzura.

Fixture schedule

• 5 October: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 1st ODI (Harare, start 9.30am local time / 8.30am Irish time)
• 7 October: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 2nd ODI (Harare, start 9.30am local time / 8.30am Irish time)
• 9 October: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 3rd ODI (Harare, start 9.30am local time / 8.30am Irish time)
• 11 October: Zimbabwe Women v Ireland Women – 4th ODI (Harare, start 9.30am local time / 8.30am Irish time)

How to watch and follow the series

A live-stream will be available via Zimbabwe Cricket’s YouTube channel.

You can follow the live scorecard and see match highlights on our Match Centre.

Cricket Ireland
Gaby Lewis will be looking to continue her good form
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Connaught