Molins leads a famous victory

Cricket International match: Jason Molins etched his name in cricket history yesterday as Ireland recorded another famous victory over top-class international opposition at Stormont.

Zimbabwe might not favourably compare to the West Indian tourists of 1969 but the Ireland captain will not care after his unbeaten 107 guided Ireland to a 10-wicket win.

Molins and Phoenix club team-mate Jeremy Bray helped rattle off the 182 target Zimbabwe had set after losing the toss and being made to bat.

"This is right up there with our best ever wins - alongside the victories over the West Indies and Middlesex," said Molins. "It's a fantastic feeling."

Zimbabwe looked on course for another low total as they slipped to 12 for three after a devastating opening spell from Gary Neely and Paul Mooney.

But for a defiant 96-run fourth-wicket partnership between Dion Ebrahim (52) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (50), which allowed the tourists to reach a respectable 182 all out, Zimbabwe would have been out for under 100.

South African Andre Botha returned impressive figures of two wickets for just 39 runs off his nine overs but the star of the Irish bowling display was Mooney, who conceded 19 runs for two wickets from his eight-over spell.

ZIMBABWE INNINGS

D D Ebrahim b McCallan 52

D A Marillier b Mooney 0

C K Coventry b Mooney 4

R W Sims c Molins b Neely 0

S Matsikenyeri st O'Brien b White 50

T Taibu c Armstrong b Botha 35

S M Ervine run out 0

T J Friend c O'Brien b Neely 22

G B Brent c & b Botha 0

D T Hondo not out 5

W Mwayenga c Armstrong b Neely 1

Extras b1 lb6 w5 nb1 pens 0 13

Total (49.5 overs) ... 182

Fall: 1-0 2-11 3-12 4-108 5-132 6-133 7-170 8-171 9-178

Bowling: Mooney 8 2 19 2; Neely 9.5 0 30 3; Armstrong 6 0 25 0; Botha 9 0 39 2; White 9 0 36 1; McCallan 8 1 26 1

IRELAND INNINGS

J A M Molins not out 107

J P Bray not out 67

Extras b1 w1 nb7 pens 0 9

Total 0 wkts (33.4 overs) ... 183

Did Not Bat: A C Botha, N J O'Brien, P G Gillespie, W K McCallan, D Joyce, A R White, P J K Mooney, C M Armstrong, G J Neely.

Bowling: Hondo 7 2 37 0; Mwayenga 4 1 22 0; Brent 7 1 28 0; Marillier 4 0 26 0; Friend 5 0 35 0; Ervine 2 0 15 0; Sims 3.4 0 17 0; Matsikenyeri 1 0 2 0.

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 10 wkts