IRELAND took a 2-0 lead to wrap up their T20i series against Zimbabwe at Sydney Parade by 65 runs.

Today’s final international (4pm) may be a dead rubber but new coach Lloyd Tennant will be keen to check out some other members of his squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers next month.

Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to field, and were heartened by the early dismissal of Amy Hunter for 1.

It could have been worse for Ireland, with Gaby Lewis spared on 4 by a generously dropped catch at midwicket.

The Phoenix batter is in excellent form, scoring 67 on Sunday, and completed her fourth consecutive international half-century in just 26 balls. Few would have backed against her making her third century in the format, but she fell for 87 off 50 balls with the score on 145.

She and Orla Prendergast have had many match-winning partnerships, and this one of 133 was their best in T20is.

The Pembroke woman made 52 on her home ground, while Leah Paul sparkled in a late flurry of runs to take the total to 176-4.

It soon looked a winning score, with Prendergast bowling her usual hostile, economical spell. She took the wickets of both openers, returning to dismiss Kelis Ndhlovu who looked a class above her team-mates in making 46.

The Zimbabwe middle-order collapsed like the Cork hurlers, with Cara Murray ripping out three wickets in an impressive spell.

With victory assured from a good way out, Lewis rotated her bowlers and gave Leah Paul the ball for the first time in 15 matches. The Merrion all-rounder responded with a tidy spell of 2-9 off her two overs, Francisca Chipare falling to an excellent diving catch by Murray.

A stumping off Paul gave Hunter her fourth dismissal in the innings, a new Irish record breaking the previous best of three catches by Mary Waldron which the veteran wicket-keeper achieved on nine occasions.

T20 INTERNATIONAL (Sydney Parade) Ireland 176-4 (20 overs; G Lewis 87, O Prendergast 52, L Paul 20, T Makusha 2-30) beat Zimbabwe 111 all out (20 overs; K Ndhlovu 46, C Murray 3-17, L Paul 2-9, O Prendergast 2-17) by 65 runs.