Ireland duly completed a series win in Monday’s second and final one-day international against Zimbabwe at Stormont – a 5-0 clean sweep, including last week’s T20Is – but this was much more competitive and it will be Zimbabwe who can head home with their heads high.

The tourists batted for all but five balls of their 50 overs for a vastly below par 178 but Ireland needed almost 39 overs to knock off the runs and their seventh wicket pair were in the middle when Orla Prendergast hit the winning boundary.

It had to be Prendergast, the stand-out player with both bat and ball in the series, adding another 67 runs to the 1,002 ODI runs she started the game with.

She received good support from Gaby Lewis in a third wicket stand of 49 but after the captain was caught behind for 44, it needed all of Prendergast’s skill and perseverance to see her side home. Ireland’s star all-rounder hit only seven boundaries – boosted by her final two shots – knowing she could not take too many risks as wickets continued to fall at the other end.

They were all taken by leg spinner Loreen Tshuma, who ended Lewis’s innings six short of her half-century, bowled Laura Delany as the former captain attempted a ramp shot, was unplayable for Leah Paul who was eventually caught at slip and completed her deserved four-for by bowling Lou Little who tried to sweep a ball which was much too full.  

Unfortunately for Zimbabwe there was not enough support or threat from the other end or else a real upset could have been on the cards.  

After the one-sided game on Saturday it was great to see a contest, which never looked likely after 19 overs when the visitors were 64 for four with extras at that stage top score with 19.

Prendergast was mainly responsible for that, with three maidens and only one run off the bat in her first five overs but it was the recalled Alana Dalzell who ended up as the leading wicket-taker.

The Bready pace bowler was given the other new ball and struck with her first ball and picked up her second with the last ball of her fourth over.

The main resistance and highlight of the Zimbabwe batting came in the fifth wicket partnership of 94 between captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and wicket-keeper Modester Mupachikwa. Admittedly it only got that far because of three dropped catches and the bowlers conceded only eight boundaries but it was the spin of Cara Murray who finally ended it, the skipper caught at mid-on by Sarah Forbes.

By now Dalzell was back at  the other end and she trapped Mupachikwa in front in her second over and recorded her best figures for Ireland when she took the ninth wicket with her final ball.

Next ball Lara McBride took her second wicket to end the innings and the formality of the second innings chase was set up. Or so we thought. Instead, it give Ireland plenty to think about as they prepare for the three-match visit of Pakistan to Clontarf next week.