Zimbabwe Under-19s clinched the youth one-day international series against Ireland Under-19s in style, edging the tourists by two wickets in a tightly contested third match at Harare Sports Club on Monday, 07 April 2025. The victory gave the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, with two games still to play.

Chasing 236 for victory, the young Zimbabweans displayed grit and composure despite several setbacks during their run chase, eventually reaching the target with 11.2 overs to spare, thanks to a crucial 49-run eighth-wicket partnership between Brandon Ndiweni and Tatenda Chimugoro.

Ireland Under-19s, who won the toss and elected to bat first, endured a nightmare start. They lost their opening batters, both without scoring, within the first two overs of their innings. James West was bowled by Chimugoro, while Freddie Ogilby was run out. By the sixth over, the visitors were reeling at 24 for three, after Robert O’Brien (10) edged behind to give Ryan Moyo his first scalp.

Adam Leckey and Sebastian Dijkstra halted the slide with a 69-run stand, offering the Irish a foothold in the match. Dijkstra, who made 24 off 44, was eventually trapped lbw by Brandon Senzere, who then took center stage with the ball. Leckey completed a well-crafted 52 off 66 balls before he too was adjudged lbw to Senzere, sparking a dramatic collapse. Three wickets including Ethan Marshall (lbw) and Peter le Roux (bowled), fell in the 26th over, reducing the visitors to 115 for seven.

However, Daniel Murray anchored Ireland Under-19s’ innings with a brilliant counterattacking knock of 90 off 98 balls, laced with eight fours and a six. He added 55 runs with Oliver Riley (17) and 46 with Febin Manoj (17) to lift the Irish side to a respectable 235 before he was the last man out, bowled by Chimugoro in the final over.

Senzere starred with the ball, returning impressive figures of four for 43, while Moyo took three for 39. In reply, Zimbabwe Under-19s began brightly, with Kupakwashe Muradzi (19) and Leeroy Chiwaula (44 off 39) adding 47 in just 6.3 overs. Chiwaula’s aggressive knock, which included seven fours and a six, laid a solid foundation.

However, quick wickets saw the hosts slump from 89 for two to 110 for four, with Leckey and Dijkstra inflicting key blows. Senzere, fresh from his bowling heroics, then added a valuable 36 off 45 balls to keep the chase alive. Tatenda Banda also contributed a steady 28, but Ireland Under-19s continued to chip away, leaving the Zimbabweans at 182 for seven by the 31st over.

Ndiweni, with 29 not out off 35, and Chimugoro, with a run-a-ball 23, then steadied the ship with a calm eighth-wicket partnership, taking their side to the brink. Although Chimugoro was bowled off the last ball of the 38th over, the hosts now needed just five more runs. Benny Zuze settled it in style, dispatching the only delivery he faced to the boundary to secure the win. The result handed Zimbabwe Under-19s the series with two matches to spare.

Both sides are using the series as valuable preparation for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.