IRELAND has continued its winning ways, this time downing Zimbabwe by 57 runs in the opening T20 encounter of the series.

After Ireland posted a massive 3/191 from their 20 overs, the girls in green then restricted Zimbabwe to 5/134.

Much of Ireland’s success with the bat can be credited to Amy Hunter, whose 138-run partnership with Gaby Lewis at the top of the order helped the innings really going for the Irish, and who herself would go on to make a maiden T20 international century.

Hunter smashed 101 from 66 balls, which included 13 fours and a six. Lewis also made a significant contribution to the score, smashing 10 fours of her own on her way to 56 from 39 balls.

Zimbabwe did concede 12 wides, it was still tough going for the hosts. The shining lights of the innings did come through Nyasha Gwanzura and Kudzai Chigora, who picked up one and two wickets respectively.

Zimbabwe made an okay start to its chase, but once that first wicket fell midway through the sixth over with only 38 runs on the board, then the wickets started to fall consistently. A 46-run third wicket partnership provided some relief, but that was short lived as no other partnership got anywhere near that size.

Skipper Mary-Anne Musonda provided some positives for Zimbabwe with the bat, scoring five boundaries on her way to 46. However, she was the only batter to get any kind of solid start as the next highest score from anyone in the host side was 22.

Meanwhile for the victorious tourists Alana Dalzell and Georgina Dempsey picked up two wickets each, while Cara Murray picked up one wicket today.

Zimbabwe does not have to wait too long to exact some revenge on the visitors, with the second T20 of the series set to take place tomorrow.