Botha bats away the cobwebs as Ireland get in mood for cup

ANDRE BOTHA’S half-century ensured a four-wicket win for Ireland against Zimbabwe in their World Cup warm-up game at Nagpur.

Batting first, Zimbabwe clawed their way back from a top-order collapse to finish on 244 for eight, with captain Elton Chigumbura’s unbeaten 103 off 81 balls leading the way.

Ireland’s chase was led by key innings from Botha (79), Alex Cusack (47) and Kevin O’Brien (62 not out) but Zimbabwe bowled well to ensure Ireland only secured victory with three balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, Ireland enjoyed a profitable start, dispatching three Zimbabwe batsmen inside eight overs – with just 12 runs on the board – as Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry and Sean Williams were all caught behind by keeper Gary Wilson.

Trent Johnston and Boyd Rankin did the damage between them before Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu steadied the ship with his 119-ball 45.

Taibu and Craig Ervine built a useful fourth-wicket stand of 63 but that was ended with Ervine run out for 27.

Zimbabwe lumbered their way to 100 in 31 overs but Taibu lost his cool and an attempted slog was caught by Andrew White, off Albert van der Merwe.

A 52-run partnership between Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya came to the rescue, with the latter contributing 26 before falling to Botha, while Chigumbura hit eight boundaries and three sixes during his quick-fire innings.

In reply, Niall O’Brien and Cusack helped the Irish recover from the first-over loss of Paul Stirling for a duck to reach 40, before the former departed for 15 off Ray Price.

Cusack hit five boundaries and was looking good for his 47 off 67 balls but was then caught out by Chigumbura.

Botha played a patient innings despite the fall of Andrew White (19) and crossed his 50 in 77 balls. O’Brien got to his half-century at nearly a run a ball, as he supported the 99-run stand well, hitting six boundaries and two sixes.

Botha’s wicket. followed by Wilson’s (seven) was too little too late for Zimbabwe, as Ireland were able to chase down the remaining runs.

Following Tuesday’s defeat to New Zealand, this was a morale-boosting win for Ireland who travel to Bangladesh to face the hosts in their opening World Cup match on February 25.

At Nagpur, Zimbabwe 244-8 (E Chigumbura 103*, T Taibu 45, C Ervine 27, P Utseya 26, T Johnston 2-9, A Botha 2-58) lost to Ireland 245-6 (49.3 overs, A Botha 79, K O’Brien 62*, A Cusack 47, A White 19, N O’Brien 15, R Price 2-37, S Mazakadza 2-39) by four wickets.