At Harare Sports Club on Sunday, Zimbabwe defeated Ireland by a slim margin of three wickets in the 2nd T20I, gaining a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. With an undefeated 43 off 30 balls, Tony Munyonga led the home team to victory as they chased down Ireland’s target of 138 with four balls remaining.

The Irish side was in early danger after being chosen to bat first, as captain Paul Stirling left the field for just one run in the first over. Lorcan Tucker, who scored 46 runs off 40 balls, kept the innings together, but the middle order did not help him.

Curtis Campher and Harry Tector both had respectable inningss (28 off 20 balls and 26 from 25 balls), but Zimbabwe’s bowlers held the score in check. With figures of 3 for 24, Trevor Gwandu was the best bowler, and Sikandar Raza contributed two wickets for 22 runs. Important breakthroughs were also made by Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, who held Ireland to 137/8 in their allocated 20 overs.

Craig Young’s strike in the opening over, which dismissed Tadiwanashe Marumani, gave Zimbabwe’s chase a lackluster start. Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett were removed quickly by the pacer, who continued his outstanding run to leave Zimbabwe battling at 14/3 after four overs. With his final statistics of 4 for 24, he was named the game’s most notable bowler for Ireland.

The skipper, Raza (22 off 27), and Ryan Burl (27 off 20), attempted to get the swaying ship under control despite the initial setbacks. The game had tilted in favor of the visitors when Raza left at 64/5, but Ireland continued to chip in with wickets.

Tony Munyonga then performed a traditional innings while under duress.

He formed an important 33-run partnership with Tashinga Musekiwa (15) before Wellington Masakadza became another important partner. Even though they were losing wickets frequently, Zimbabwe was still in the hunt.

In the final three overs, Munyonga remained composed, while Richard Ngarava’s cameo (12* off 7) made the chase easier. The two boundaries that Ngarava hit off Young in the last over proved to be costly for Ireland, as Munyonga’s elegant drive-through cover completed the victory.