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The Zimbabwe national cricket team and Ireland cricket team match scorecard have produced several competitive international encounters across ODI and T20I cricket. One notable recent meeting came during Ireland’s tour of Zimbabwe in February 2025, when the teams faced each other in a three-match ODI series. In the first ODI at Harare Sports Club on February 14, Zimbabwe posted 299/5 from 50 overs before dismissing Ireland for 250 in 46 overs, winning by 49 runs.
Brian Bennett was the standout performer, producing an outstanding 169 from 163 balls. His innings included 20 fours and three sixes and accounted for more than half of Zimbabwe’s total. Craig Ervine also contributed a valuable 66, while Blessing Muzarabani took four wickets as Zimbabwe successfully defended their total.
The result gave Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series and highlighted the importance of Bennett’s record-setting innings. Ireland’s chase showed resilience, but Zimbabwe’s bowling attack maintained control through the middle and final stages of the innings.
Because no delivery was bowled, there were no individual batting or bowling performances to record.
The washout was particularly significant for Zimbabwe because the single point was enough to secure their progression to the Super Eight stage.
Persistent rain prevented the toss and made it impossible to begin play.
The fixture was expected to be an important Group B contest, but rain had the final say. The official scorecard records that the match was abandoned without a toss, meaning there was no opportunity for either captain to make a tactical decision at the start of the game.
Zimbabwe did not bat because the weather prevented the match from reaching the toss or playing stage. Therefore, there were no individual batting performances, partnerships or batting milestones to record.
Match Overview
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Ireland, 1st ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | Ireland tour of Zimbabwe 2025 |
| Date | February 14, 2025 |
| Venue | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| Format | ODI |
| Toss | Ireland won and chose to bowl |
| Zimbabwe | 299/5 in 50 overs |
| Ireland | 250 all out in 46 overs |
| Result | Zimbabwe won by 49 runs |
| Player of the Match | Brian Bennett |
| Series score | Zimbabwe led 1-0 |
The match began with Ireland choosing to bowl after winning the toss. Zimbabwe’s decision-making with the bat proved decisive as the home side built a substantial total of 299 for 5. Ireland needed to produce its highest successful ODI chase against Zimbabwe at the venue, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the second innings.
First Innings Scorecard
Zimbabwe Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Brian Bennett | c Balbirnie b Mark Adair | 169 | 163 | 20 | 3 | 103.68 |
| Ben Curran | c Humphreys b Andy McBrine | 28 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 63.64 |
| Craig Ervine | c Mark Adair b Graham Hume | 66 | 61 | 3 | 4 | 108.20 |
| Sikandar Raza | c Stirling b Joshua Little | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Wessly Madhevere | c Balbirnie b Mark Adair | 8 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 61.54 |
| Johnathan Campbell | not out | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras | 12 | |||||
| Total | 5 wickets | 299 | 50 overs | 5.98 RR |
Zimbabwe’s innings was dominated by Brian Bennett. His 169 came from 163 deliveries and included 20 fours and three sixes. Craig Ervine’s 66 provided excellent support, while the pair’s second-wicket partnership helped Zimbabwe establish control after the opening stand was broken.
Ireland Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Mark Adair | 10 | 0 | 55 | 2 | 5.50 |
| Joshua Little | 9 | 0 | 75 | 1 | 8.30 |
| Graham Hume | 9 | 2 | 57 | 1 | 6.30 |
| Andy McBrine | 10 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 5.30 |
| Matthew Humphreys | 10 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 5.10 |
| Curtis Campher | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 |
Mark Adair was Ireland’s leading wicket-taker with two dismissals, but Bennett’s prolonged innings meant Zimbabwe continued scoring heavily. Ireland’s bowlers kept the run rate under control at certain stages, yet Zimbabwe’s strong finish pushed the total close to 300.
Second Innings Scorecard
Ireland Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Andrew Balbirnie | c Marumani b Ngarava | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Paul Stirling | c Marumani b Muzarabani | 32 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 114.29 |
| Curtis Campher | c Marumani b Raza | 44 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 77.19 |
| Harry Tector | c Ervine b Madhevere | 39 | 78 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Lorcan Tucker | b Muzarabani | 31 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 81.58 |
| George Dockrell | c Madhevere b Muzarabani | 34 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 97.14 |
| Mark Adair | c Masakadza b Madhevere | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Andy McBrine | c Masakadza b Muzarabani | 32 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Graham Hume | not out | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 175.00 |
| Matthew Humphreys | c Campbell b Ngarava | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Joshua Little | c Madhevere b Ngarava | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Extras | 28 | |||||
| Total | all out | 250 | 46 overs | 5.43 RR |
Ireland’s chase never fully recovered after Andrew Balbirnie fell for a first-ball duck. Paul Stirling counterattacked with 32 from 28 balls, but Zimbabwe repeatedly found breakthroughs whenever Ireland appeared to be building momentum.
Curtis Campher top-scored with 44, while Harry Tector made 39 and Lorcan Tucker scored 31. George Dockrell and Andy McBrine also contributed useful runs, but Ireland eventually ran out of batting partners and was bowled out for 250.
Zimbabwe Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Richard Ngarava | 9 | 0 | 56 | 3 | 6.20 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 9 | 0 | 51 | 4 | 5.70 |
| Newman Nyamhuri | 6 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 5.80 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 10 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Sikandar Raza | 10 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 5.40 |
| Wessly Madhevere | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 6.00 |
Blessing Muzarabani was Zimbabwe’s standout bowler, taking four wickets for 51 runs. Richard Ngarava added three wickets, while Wessly Madhevere claimed two. Together, the attack prevented Ireland from sustaining a long partnership during the chase.
Top Performers From the Match
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Brian Bennett | Zimbabwe | 169 runs from 163 balls |
| Craig Ervine | Zimbabwe | 66 runs from 61 balls |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Zimbabwe | 4/51 |
| Richard Ngarava | Zimbabwe | 3/56 |
| Curtis Campher | Ireland | 44 runs from 57 balls |
| Harry Tector | Ireland | 39 runs from 78 balls |
| George Dockrell | Ireland | 34 runs from 35 balls |
Brian Bennett was clearly the match’s outstanding performer. His century-sized innings was not simply a high-scoring contribution, it shaped the entire contest by giving Zimbabwe enough runs to attack Ireland with scoreboard pressure.
Muzarabani then completed the job with four wickets, while Ngarava’s three-wicket haul helped close out the innings.
Key Stats and Records From the Match
| Statistic | Figure |
| Zimbabwe total | 299/5 |
| Ireland total | 250 all out |
| Winning margin | 49 runs |
| Highest individual score | Brian Bennett 169 |
| Second-highest Zimbabwe score | Craig Ervine 66 |
| Ireland’s highest score | Curtis Campher 44 |
| Most wickets | Blessing Muzarabani 4 |
| Second-most wickets | Richard Ngarava 3 |
| Zimbabwe run rate | 5.98 |
| Ireland run rate | 5.43 |
| Zimbabwe powerplay score | 60/0 |
| Match venue | Harare Sports Club |
Bennett’s 169 was the defining statistic. He scored at a strike rate of 103.68 and struck 23 boundaries in total. Zimbabwe also passed the 250-run mark comfortably, giving the bowlers a significant cushion when Ireland began its chase.
Match Result and Winning Team
Zimbabwe won by 49 runs.
Zimbabwe scored 299 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs before dismissing Ireland for 250 in 46 overs. The victory gave Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The result was particularly significant because Zimbabwe had entered the series looking to make a strong start at home. Ireland had won the toss and chosen to field, but Bennett’s extraordinary innings turned that initial advantage into a difficult chase.
Partnerships and Fall of Wickets
Zimbabwe Partnerships
| Partnership | Runs |
| Brian Bennett and Ben Curran | 95 |
| Brian Bennett and Craig Ervine | 136 |
| Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza | 11 |
| Brian Bennett and Wessly Madhevere | 36 |
| Brian Bennett and Johnathan Campbell | 17 |
| Campbell and Marumani | 4 |
The 136-run partnership between Bennett and Ervine was the centerpiece of Zimbabwe’s innings. It gave the home side the stability required to accelerate later in the innings.
Zimbabwe Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over |
| 1 | 95 | Ben Curran | 18.4 |
| 2 | 231 | Craig Ervine | 40.6 |
| 3 | 242 | Sikandar Raza | 43.1 |
| 4 | 278 | Wessly Madhevere | 47.1 |
| 5 | 295 | Brian Bennett | 49.2 |
Ireland Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over |
| 1 | 0 | Andrew Balbirnie | 0.1 |
| 2 | 55 | Paul Stirling | 7.6 |
| 3 | 109 | Curtis Campher | 21.2 |
| 4 | 155 | Lorcan Tucker | 32.2 |
| 5 | 163 | Harry Tector | 33.6 |
| 6 | 169 | Mark Adair | 35.2 |
| 7 | 242 | Andy McBrine | 44.3 |
| 8 | 247 | George Dockrell | 44.6 |
| 9 | 248 | Matthew Humphreys | 45.2 |
| 10 | 250 | Joshua Little | 45.6 |
Ireland’s fall of wickets shows how Zimbabwe kept breaking partnerships. The most damaging collapse came after Ireland reached 242 for 7, with the final three wickets falling for only eight additional runs.
Player of the Match
Brian Bennett
Brian Bennett was named Player of the Match after producing a sensational 169 from 163 deliveries. His innings contained 20 fours and three sixes and formed the foundation of Zimbabwe’s 299-run total.
Bennett combined patience with controlled aggression. He stayed at the crease through most of Zimbabwe’s innings and continued scoring even after wickets began to fall around him. His dismissal came in the 50th over, with Zimbabwe already at 295 for 5.
Match Summary and Key Moments
Ireland’s toss decision: Ireland won the toss and elected to field. The visitors would have hoped to use the early conditions to restrict Zimbabwe, but that plan did not produce the desired result.
Strong opening stand: Zimbabwe’s first wicket did not fall until 95. Ben Curran contributed 28 while Bennett established himself at the crease.
Bennett and Ervine take control: The second-wicket partnership between Bennett and Craig Ervine added 136 runs. This transformed Zimbabwe’s innings from a competitive start into a potentially match-winning total.
Zimbabwe reaches 299: Bennett’s 169 was the key reason Zimbabwe finished with 299 for 5. The final total gave the home bowlers considerable room for error.
Early Ireland setback: Andrew Balbirnie was dismissed for a first-ball duck, immediately placing Ireland under pressure.
Ireland’s middle-order resistance: Stirling, Campher, Tector, Tucker, Dockrell and McBrine attempted to rebuild the innings, but none could produce a match-defining partnership.
Muzarabani strikes: Blessing Muzarabani’s four wickets prevented Ireland from converting useful starts into a successful chase.
Zimbabwe seals victory: Ireland was bowled out for 250 in 46 overs, leaving Zimbabwe 49 runs ahead and 1-0 up in the series.
Head-to-Head Record and Previous Meetings
Zimbabwe and Ireland have developed a competitive ODI rivalry. According to available historical records, the teams had met regularly before the 2025 series, with Ireland holding an advantage in the overall ODI win count.
Their most recent ODI meetings before this match came during Ireland’s 2023 tour of Zimbabwe. Ireland won the second and third ODIs, while the first ODI ended without a result.
The February 14, 2025 match therefore represented an important opportunity for Zimbabwe to change the recent momentum. Zimbabwe did exactly that by winning the opening ODI by 49 runs.
| Recent ODI Meeting | Result |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Zimbabwe won by 49 runs |
| Dec 17, 2023 | Ireland won by 7 wickets via DLS |
| Dec 15, 2023 | Ireland won by 4 wickets |
| Dec 13, 2023 | No result |
The 2025 series eventually became even more significant. Zimbabwe lost the second ODI to Ireland by six wickets before winning the third ODI by nine wickets, securing the series 2-1.
Final Thoughts
The first ODI of the 2025 Zimbabwe versus Ireland series belonged to Brian Bennett and Zimbabwe’s bowling attack. Bennett’s remarkable 169 provided the foundation for a commanding 299 for 5, while Craig Ervine’s 66 ensured the innings remained stable through the middle overs. Ireland showed determination during the chase, but Muzarabani and Ngarava repeatedly broke important partnerships. Zimbabwe eventually dismissed Ireland for 250 to win by 49 runs and take an early series lead. The result also demonstrated how a major individual batting performance, backed by disciplined bowling, can completely shape an ODI contest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Zimbabwe vs Ireland 1st ODI in 2025?
Zimbabwe won the first ODI by 49 runs after scoring 299 for 5 and bowling Ireland out for 250.
Who scored the most runs in the match?
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett was the leading run-scorer. He made 169 runs from 163 balls.
Who was Player of the Match?
Brian Bennett was named Player of the Match for his outstanding 169-run innings.
How many runs did Zimbabwe score?
Zimbabwe scored 299 for 5 in their 50 overs.
How many wickets did Blessing Muzarabani take?
Blessing Muzarabani claimed four wickets for 51 runs from his nine overs, making him Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker.
