IRELAND will be odds-on to complete a fifth successive victory over Zimbabwe today after romping to 288-9 to set up a 97-run win in the first of two one-day internationals in Belfast on Saturday.

It was almost too easy at times and after notching a series of personal milestones the Girls in Green should probably have won by a wider margin against a team still recovering from last week’s 3-0 T20 loss at Sydney Parade.

Both Amy Hunter (47) and Orla Prendergast (50) went past 1,000 career runs in ODIs, while opener Sarah Forbes top-scored with 54 after skipper Gaby Lewis had fallen for 51 — her lowest return from three innings against the tourists.

Even more pleasing to new coach Lloyd Tennant will be the form of his two spinners Cara Murray and Laura McBride.

Leg-spinner Murray has been out of sorts for a couple of years but was leading wicket-taker with seven in the T20 series and another two victims on Saturday brought up her half-century in ODIs.

Meanwhile, McBride, who impressed in the T20s, took 2-25 on debut as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 191.

It’s hard to know how much Tennant would have learned about his side from the two hopelessly one-sided series but he’ll have a better idea when Pakistan arrive in Dublin next month for three T20 internationals.