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Ngarava shines as Zimbabwe beat Ireland

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DUBLIN – Richard Ngarava defended five off the last over to give Zimbabwe a tense, three-run win in the series opener against Ireland.

Zimbabwe have only defended one total lower than their 117 in Dublin today – 105 against West Indies in February 2010. The win was also Craig Ervine’s first as T20 captain.

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After a batting performance riddled with problems, with only Regis Ch akabva scoring more than 20, Zimbabwe’s spinners Wellington Masakadza and Ryan Burl shared five wickets between them, and conceded just 40 runs, to keep Zimbabwe in the contest.

Luke Jongwe took 2 for 17 to reduce Ireland to 88 for 7, leaving the eighth-wicket pair of Simi Singh and Barry McCarthy to finish the job.

Ireland needed 18 runs off the last three overs, 12 off the last two and six off the final over, but Ngarava held his nerve at the end.

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His first ball was a yorker that Singh could not dig out, his second was quicker and Singh missed and his third was flicked away for one.

With five needed off the last three, McCarthy walked across his stumps to try and ramp the ball over short fine leg but was bowled.

Craig Young was run-out at the non-striker’s end off the penultimate ball before the last delivery, a low full-toss, cost just one run to give Zimbabwe victory.

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Zimbabwe’s openers had a dismal start to the series and were both dismissed in the first 17 balls, playing lazy shots against a fired-up Craig Young.

Wessley Madhevere was unable to build on his form from earlier in the year and the first to go, jabbing at the last ball of the opening opener, to give debutant Neil Rock his first (and what may end up being one of his easiest) catch in international cricket.

After he had a scored a single in the first over, Tadiwanashe Marumani looked like a sitting duck as he negotiated the second over from Barry McCarthy. He inside-edged the first ball, missed the next three and then finally found some defence to face a maiden.

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The pressure got to him and Marumani tried to get a move on when he danced down the track in an attempt to heave Young over the leg side, but the quick saw him coming, dragged the length back and had him caught at slip.

Young’s opening spell yielded 2 for 5.

After the opening blunders, Regis Chakabhva helped Zimbabwe recover, sharing the best partnerships of the innings – 38 with Dion Myers and 30 with Craig Ervine.

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He gave Zimbabwe their most profitable over against Curtis Campher, who he pulled through midwicket, pounded through point and tucked down to fine leg for three boundaries in his first four balls.

Campher’s first over in this format cost 16 runs all told. Chakabva’s best shot, however, was the six he hit off Singh, when he went down on one knee to send the spinner over midwicket.

By then, Chakabva made sure Zimbabwe had a stable foundation at 79 for 4 in 12 over. But he didn’t read Singh’s wrong ‘un, in the 13th over, and was bowled. He would have been disappointed to fall one short of equalling his score in the format and three shy of a first T20I fifty.

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Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien are at polar opposite places in terms of form and it showed. Stirling, who is coming off a tournament-winning knock in the Hundred, swept the third ball he faced over square leg for four.

On the other hand, O’Brien, who has scored just two runs in his last three T20I innings, was tentative putting bat on ball.

He was beaten four times by Ngarava’s first six balls and then watched Stirling flat-bat the first ball he faced from Tendai Chatara over point for four and cut the third one for four more.

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Stirling had scored 14 off 12 by the time O’Brien got his first run, a single off the ninth delivery he faced.

Stirling then got two more boundaries, to deepen the difference between them.

It was only after Stirling misjudged Jongwe’s length and was bowled that O’Brien found his stride.

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He hit Masakadza over extra cover for four for his first boundary in four matches.

He found the rope two more times in his 32-ball innings.

Stirling’s dismissal gave Zimbabwe an opportunity to fight their way back and they were able to, thanks largely to, their legspinner, Burl.

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He bowled with good pace and surprised captain Andy Balbirnie with a quick, flat delivery that pinned him on the front pad and then removed George Dockrell and O’Brien with successive balls to leave Ireland on 65 for 4.

Dockrell was caught at long-off trying to clear the rope and O’Brien was bowled when he missed a ball that turned into him.

The hat-trick delivery was to Campher, who managed a single but Burl had given Zimbabwe an opening.

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He finished with 3 for 22, by which time fellow spinner Masakadza had two wickets.

Campher holed out to deep midwicket and Shane Getkate was caught reverse-sweeping, at third man.- ESPNCrickInfo

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National

Chidzivo, Waison take top honors at Vic Falls Marathon

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Blessing Waison and Fortunate Chidzivo took top honors at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon yesterday, as Zimbabwean long-distance runners excelled at Africa’s most prestigious road race.

Econet General Manager – Marketing, Mrs Tariro Muchena (left), and Finance Director, Mr Chengeto Moyo, present the winner’s prize to men’s marathon champion, Blessing Waison, at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, while Victoria Falls Mayor, Mr Prince Moyo, looks on

The event, which featured athletes from over 40 countries, saw Waison storm to victory in the men’s full marathon, clocking 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 16 seconds. He narrowly beat decorated Olympian Isaac Mpofu in a thrilling duel that brought thousands of spectators to their feet.

Godwin Katakura followed closely in third, completing an all-Zimbabwean podium sweep in the 42.2km race. The trio’s success came with bigger rewards this year, after Econet Wireless doubled the total prize purse to $50,000.

Waison walked away with $3,000, while Mpofu and Katakura earned $2,000 and $1,500, respectively.

In the women’s marathon, Chidzivo delivered a commanding performance, clocking 2 hours and 42 minutes to claim another major title in her illustrious career. Ethel Pangiso and Phillipa Dube completed the women’s podium in second and third place, respectively.

Rising star Wayne Kabondo turned heads in the men’s 21km half marathon, overcoming a formidable field to finish in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. Kabondo pocketed $1,500 for his efforts.

In the women’s 21km race, Caroline Mhandu crossed the line in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds, ahead of Miriam Sibanda and Melody Kaseke.

The marathon’s inclusive spirit was evident in the 18km Specially Abled Races, which saw uplifting performances across different categories. Godknows Hamadziripi claimed the men’s tricycle title, while Samson Muroyiwa won the handcycle event.

Among the women, Stella Jongwe triumphed in the handcycle race, and Ratidzo Tomu took first position in the tricycle category.

Organized by Econet Wireless in partnership with Wild Horizons, the 2025 edition drew over 5,000 participants and spectators from more than 40 countries. The marathon route, widely regarded as Africa’s most scenic, winds through game reserves and offers spectacular views of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.

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Beyond the races, this year’s event featured live music, traditional dance, health expos, and community wellness activities.

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Zimparks launches elephant culling program

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a bid to address the growing elephant population in Save Valley Conservancy, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has issued permits for a controlled elephant management exercise.

The exercise, slated to commence shortly, aims to cull an initial 50 elephants from the conservancy, which is currently home to 2,550 elephants – more than three times the ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants.

According to ZimParks, the conservancy has been struggling to cope with the swelling elephant population, which has put a strain on the wildlife habitat and resources. Over the past five years, the conservancy has translocated 200 elephants to other areas, including Hurungwe and Sapi, in an effort to manage the population.

Zimparks says the controlled culling exercise is expected to provide relief to the conservancy’s ecosystem, while also benefiting local communities.

Elephant meat from the exercise will be distributed to local communities while the ivory will be kept by the State.

In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo emphasized the authority’s commitment to responsible and sustainable wildlife management.

“We remain committed to ensuring that our wildlife resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

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In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

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