GABY LEWIS ensured Ireland maintained their 100 per cent record against Zimbabwe in T20 internationals yesterday but her side were made to work hard at Sydney Parade before easing away to a six-wicket victory in the first of three matches.

The tourists’ total of 117-9 should not have stretched the Girls in Green but skipper Lewis took a while to find the pace of a green pitch at the Pembroke club and the scoreboard was showing only 54-2 at the halfway stage of the reply.

Lewis then accelerated away, notching her 14th half-century in the shortest format and had struck 13 fours when she was stumped for 67 from 49 balls, looking to hit a second six.

A burst of 30 runs in three overs ended any thoughts of Zimbabwe beating Ireland for the first time at the eighth attempt, and victory was secured with 19 balls to spare to give new head coach Lloyd Tennant a winning start.

“There was so much out there to be pleased with,” Lewis said.

“Laura McBride came in for her debut, took a wicket and then held that amazing catch which lifted the whole side, and Cara Murray bowled really well which was so good to see because she’s had a difficult couple of years.”

Teenage off-spinner McBride, who plays for The Hills, took a regulation return catch to claim her first international victim then misjudged a skier at mid-on and having advanced too far had to back pedal, leap and throw up her right hand to hold a stunner.

Murray will be delighted with her return of 3-19 from four overs of leg-spin which did more than anything to stall the Zimbabwe innings after a solid start.

Lewis admitted that it had taken her side a while to get used to the conditions but having done so she will be quietly confident of extending Ireland’s run on the same ground tomorrow.