Old fox Jeremy Bray stood firm with an unbeaten 115 as Ireland recovered from a mini-collapse to post 221 against Zimbabwe.
Earlier after deciding to field first skipper Prosper Utseya opted to keep his spinners in reserve until almost halfway, concentrating on bowling his medium pacers. Ireland’s top five struggled against balls angled across them.
SCOREBOARD
Ireland: W Porterfield c Sibanda b Mpofu 0, JP Bray not out 115, E Morgan c Chigumbura b Brent 21, N O’Brien c Taylor b Chigumbura 1, A Botha b Chigumbura 1, K O’Brien c Taylor b Rainsford 10, A White lbw b Brent 28, D Johnston not out 20, W McCallan st Taylor b Williams 0, D Langford Smith c Taylor b Mpofu 15. Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 5, nb 3) 10, Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 221
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-43, 3-44, 4-64, 5-89, 6-145, 7-182, 8-182, 9-221
Bowling: CB Mpofu 10-3-58-2, Rainsford 7-0-44-1, E Chigumbura 6-2-21-2, GB Brent10-1-40-2, P Utseya 10-0-29-0, SC Williams 6-1-21-1, S Matsikenyeri1-0-6-0