Laura Delany marked her 100th T20 international appearance with an unbeaten half-century at the Harare Sports Club yesterday as her Ireland side beat Zimbabwe by 60 runs to take a winning 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Skipper Delany won the toss and after Amy Hunter had fallen for the first time in three innings for 42, Orla Prendergast struck nine fours and a six in a top score of 69 from 48 balls to help the tourists to another impressive total of 169-3.

Delany, the first Irish woman to be capped 100 times in the shortest format, shared a third-wicket partnership of 86 with Prendergast and walked off 54 not out from 38 balls, including two maximums and three fours.

A late onslaught of 55 runs from the final four overs had dashed any hopes of a Zimbabwe win and Ireland were able to use eight bowlers in restricting the home side to 109-7 in reply.

Prendergast picked up 1-6 to rubber stamp the Player of the Match award while her Pembroke team-mate Louise Little claimed 2-8, also from two overs.

Coach Ed Joyce’s side are now strong favourites to complete their first 5-0 clean sweep with concluding matches under floodlights tomorrow on Thursday and Friday.