The countdown to next year’s Under 19 World Cup started for Ireland in one of the two host countries with a four wickets defeat by Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.

Defending a below par total of 236, Reuben Wilson gave Ireland the perfect start with a wicket in the first over and they reduced Zimbabwe to 154 for five but couldn’t finish the job. A sixth wicket stand of 62 edged the home side closer and, summing up Ireland’s day, the game was won with a wide – the 13th of the innings – with five overs to spare.

Skipper Ollie Riley appeals: Pic from Zimbabwe Cricket

Freddie Ogilby, opening the batting, top scored for Ireland with 69 and he shared a second wicket stand of 114 with Adam Leckey to put Ireland in control after they were put into bat.

But when Leckey was third out in the 33rd over for 66 with the total on 171, Ireland lost their remaining seven wickets for 65, bowled out with 14 balls unused. No other batter reached 20.

Ireland gave first youth caps to Merrion’s Seb Dijkstra, Clontarf’s Ethan Marshall, Febin Manoj from The Hills and CSN’s Seb Yeates. Left out of the 14-man squad for the opening game were Alex Armstrong, Thomas Ford and Peter Le Roux.

Ogilby, the son of former Ireland wicket-keeper Stephen, brought up his half-century – and the team hundred in the 21st over - from just 56 balls with eight fours  and Leckey followed him to the landmark six overs later from 61 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Ogilby also cleared the fence before he was caught, going for his second maximum, and at the second drinks break, Ireland were 175 for three and on course to get somewhere near 300.

The unluckiest of the remaining batters was Dijkstra, superbly run out by tall pace bowler Shelton Mazvitorera who collected a firm drive return in his right hand and in the same movement threw down the stumps before the all-rounder could get back into his crease.

Unfortunately, it precipitated a collapse and after Robert O’Brien was yorked, the last five batters were all caught going for big shots.

Manoj endured a nervous start with the ball, his first over going for 12, which included two no balls and a four off one of the free-hits, but by the end of his fourth over he had figures of one for 14. He finished with two for 37 from his full quota of 10 overs.

Marshall also struck in his third over and when Dijkstra forced Zimbabwe captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere to play on, Ireland were in a great position to make a winning start to the tour.

Captain Olly Riley rang the bowling changes but by the time Wilson (2-40) broke the partnership between Tatenda Banda, who was bowled by Marshall, from a free-hit before he had scored, and Brandon Ndiweni, it proved to be too late.

The second of the five-match series is on Saturday at 8.15am.