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Ireland's cricketers came back down to earth with a bump after a crushing 156 run defeat in their opening tri series fixture with Zimbabwe in Nairiobi.
Ireland were always on the back foot when Zimbabwe openers Hamilton Masakadza and Cephas Zhuwawo smashed 54 from the opening six overs bowled by Peter Connell and Boyd Rankin.
It took the introduction of Trent Johnston to provide a much needed breakthrough - Rankin taking a good catch at third man to dismiss Zhuwawo for 16, with the score on 71 in the 9th over. The real fireworks were being provided by Mazakadza, who raced to his half century off just 32 balls (11 fours and a six), before tempering his approach slightly as Botha and Johsnton fought to stem the flow of runs.
Indeed it was Johnston who gave the Irish some respite, when he had Mazakadza well caught at point by skipper William Porterfield for 72, with the total on 99. His brutal assault had seen him hit 13 fours and a six, and came from 66 deliveries.
Zimbabwe rebuilt, and a 3rd wicket partnership of 102 in 21.1 overs between Chamu Chibhahba (51) and Tatenda Taibu (74) effectively took the game out of the Irish reach. 102 runs came in the final 12 overs, with Elton Chigumbura (33), and Stuart Matsikenyeri (27) scoring at better than a run a ball.
Peter Connell was the most successful of the Irish attack taking 3 wickets, but at a cost of 68 from just 8 overs. Rankin (1-53 from 6), and Cusack (1-42 from 6) were also expensive. Johnston (2-40), Botha (1-44), and McCallan (1-47) all battled manfully in a desperate attempt to stem the carnage.
A Zimbabwe total of 303 for 8 was always going to be a tall order, but with a powerful Irish batting line up, an excellent track and a fast outfield, there was always hope.
That hope didn't last long, as the Zimbabwe tactic of opening with off spinner Prosper Utseya paid dividends, as he picked up the early wickets of William Porterfield (10), and Andre Botha (21). Chigumbura accounted for Niall O'Brien for just 2, and Gary Wilson without scoring, and at 49 for 4, it was all about damage limitation.
Andy White (18), and Alex Cusack (5), both fell to Timycen Maruma, and at 72 for 6 in the 25th over, Ireland were in complete disarray.
Kevin O'Brien and Trent Johnston tried to restore some pride, but Ray Price returned the most economical figures by a Zimbabwean, conceding just 7 runs in 10 overs, to strangle the life out of the Ireland reply.
There was some cheer for Ireland, as O'Brien broke the shackles briefly crashing Maruma for 3 sixes in the one over, but it was too little, too late for the Irish cause. Johnston (12), and O'Brien (38), both fell to good catches off Keith Dabengwa in the 38th over, and at 115 for 8, it was just about seeing if they could bat out their overs.
Kyle McCallan hit 4 boundaries in an entertaining 25 from 29 balls, but he too fell to Dabengwa, trapped lbw with the total on 147. Peter Connell was then run out with no addition to the total, and a miserable day all round was complete.
Very little positives to take from such a comprehensive routing, but the team won't have long to wait before they get a chance to redeem themselves, as they are back in action on Saturday against Kenya.
At Gymkhana Club,
Mazakadza c Porterfield b
Zhuwawo c Rankin b
Chibhabha b Rankin 51
Taibu b Connell 74
Matsikenyeri c K O'Brien b Botha 27
Chigumbura c Botha b Connell 33
Dabengwa b Cusack 1
Maruma c
Utseya not out 3
Extras 24
Total (50 overs, 8 wickets) 303
FOW: 1-71 2-99 3-201 4-259 5-262 6-266 7-285 8-303
Bowling: Connell 8-0-68-3 Rankin 6-0-53-1
N O'Brien c Utseya b Chigumbura 2
G
A Botha st Taibu b Utseya 21
A White c Chibhanha b Maruma 18
K O'Brien c Taibu b Dabengwa 38
A Cusack c&b Maruma 5
T
K McCallan lbw Dabengwa 25
P Connell run out Chibhabha) 6
B Rankin not out 0
Extras 10
Total (46.1 overs, all out)147
FOW: 1-9 2-14 3-17 4-49 5-63 6-72 7-113 8-115 9-147 10-147
Bowling: Chigumbura 5-0-18-2 Utseya 9.1-0-29-2 Mpofu 3-0-8-0 Price 10-5-7-0 Maruma 10-1-50-2 Dabengwa 6-1-17-3 Zhuwawo 3-0-15-0
