Zimbabwe Under 19s took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series against Ireland U19 with a ultimately comfortable 12 runs victory.

The pressure of the chase proved just too much for the Ireland batters who needed 54 off the last five overs, but they lost their last six wickets for 31.

While Seb Dijkstra and Dan Murray were together, Ireland were still very much in the hunt to overall the hosts' total of 260. But their fifth wicket stand was ended when Murray (23) was bowled off the last ball of the 46th over. When Dijkstra followed five balls later, caught behind for 65, Zimbabwe were favourites. 
Seb Yeates and Peter Le Roux were both run out in the next over, trying to turn singles into impossible twos. After Ruben Wilson was caught at mid-off, Thomas Ford hit his first two balls to the boundary but 18 off the last over proved too much for Alex Armstrong and he was caught behind from the penultimate ball of the innings.

Kian Blignaut's score of 68 won him the POTM award (Cricket Zimbabwe)

Ford, Le Roux and Armstrong all came into the side with James West replacing Olly Riley as skipper. He duly won the toss and asked Zimbabwe to bat but they dominated the first 40 overs, scoring 201 for four, which included three 50 partnerships.

It was to the Ireland bowlers’ credit that they conceded just 60 in the last 10 overs with Murray picking up three wickets (for 26) while Wilson, who dismissed top scorer Kian Blignaut (68) and Armstrong both finished with two wickets.

West lost opening partner Freddie Ogibly in the fifth over but put on 56 for the second wicket with Adam Leckey (26) but the captain fell to a superb running catch at deep square for 37.

Dijkstra joined Robert O’Brien (42) and with the help of a dropped catch for the latter, they put on 92 for the fourth wicket. But that was to be as good as it got for Ireland.

Of more concern moving forward was the 34 wides bowled by Ireland. Zimbabwe bowled 20 but the difference of 14 was still two more than the final margin.

The third match, which Ireland must win to have a chance of winning the series, is on Monday.