| Twenty20 international, Harare |
| Ireland 191-3 (20 overs): Hunter 101*, Lewis 56; Chigora 2-46 |
| Zimbabwe 134-5 (20 overs): Musonda 46, Dhururu 22; Dalzell 2-20 |
| Ireland won by 57 runs |
| Scorecard |
Amy Hunter hit her first Twenty20 century for Ireland as they took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series against Zimbabwe in Harare.
The 18-year-old’s unbeaten 101 off 66 balls helped Ireland post an imposing 191-3 with Gaby Lewis contributing 56.
Zimbabwe struggled in their reply with captain Mary-Anne Musonda top-scoring with 46 as they finished on 134-5.
Hunter’s century was the first by an Ireland woman in a T20 international against a full ICC member.
Friday’s opening T20 contest followed a three-match one-day series where Ireland clinched a 2-0 victory with one of the contests ending in a tie.
Both sides are using the series to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates in April and May.
After Ireland won the boss, Hunter and Lewis produced an Irish women’s record T20 partnership of 138, with Lewis recording her 11th T20 half century before she was bowled out by Nyasha Gwanzura.
Hunter’s 101 included 13 fours and a six, with Orla Prendergast also reaching double figures with a 13 before she fell to Kudzai Chigora.
Hunter’s ton means the Belfast native is the only Ireland women’s cricketer to score an international century in both the ODI and T20 formats.
In Zimbabwe’s reply, Alana Dalzell took the opening wickets of Kelis Ndlovu and Pellagia Mujaji as the hosts were never on target in the run chase.
Georgina Dempsey claimed two wickets in four deliveries to bowl out Musonda and Loreen Tshuma as Ireland eased to victory.
The second contest of the five-game series takes place on Sunday (11:00 GMT).
