Kevin O’Brien brought up his first T20I fifty in 20 innings to help Ireland beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the second T20I, in Dublin. With the win, Ireland have now levelled the five-match series 1-1.
Ireland were chasing 153, and Paul Stirling and O'Brien shared a 59-run opening-wicket stand in 38 balls to lay the platform for others. At No. 3, Andy Balbirnie could not make full use of it. Ryan Burl, who got Stirling (37 in 29 balls) in the seventh over, had his second wicket of the day when he cleaned up Balbirnie (5 in 11) in the 11th over.
Ireland were 77/2 in 10.2 overs, but O’Brien did not lose his rhythm. He struck seven fours and a six in his 41-ball 60, and added 52 with George Dockrell before Tendai Chatara sent him back in the 16th over. It was a consolation wicket, as Ireland only needed 24 off 26 balls at this point.
Dockrell did not take much time to finish things off. He made an unbeaten 33 in 26 balls to take Ireland home with nine balls to spare. With him was Harry Tector, not out on five.
Earlier, opting to bat, Wesley Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani got Zimbabwe off to a steady start. They added 35 in 30 balls before Madhevere (21) nicked Shane Getkate (3-20) to Neil Rock in the fifth over. Harry Tector ran Marumani (11) out in the next over as Zimbabwe finished the Powerplay on 39/2.
Zimbabwe’s next three batters – Regis Chakabva (10), Dion Myers (1), and Craig Ervine (15) – all departed cheaply after that. They were reduced to 64/5 in 10.1 overs before Milton Shumba and Burl steadied the ship.
Shumba, on his sixth T20I match, scored a 27-ball 46 not out, with four fours and two sixes. He and Burl (37*) forged an unbroken 88-run sixth-wicket stand in 59 balls to take Zimbabwe to 152/5, which was still not enough.
The two sides will now move to Northern Ireland for the remaining three T20Is of the series.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 152/5 in 20 overs (Milton Shumba 46*; Shane Getkate 3-20) lost to Ireland 153/3 in 18.3 overs (Kevin O'Brien 60; Ryan Burl 2-24) by 7 wickets with 9 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Kevin O'Brien.