After winning the three-match home Women's T20I series by 3-0, Ireland Women completed another clean sweep of Zimbabwe Women in the two-match home Women's ODI series (2-0) after winning the last game of the series by four wickets on Monday (July 28).

Zimbabwe Women were targeting to only level the away Women's ODI series on Monday, when they chose to bat first after winning the toss at Belfast. After the Lady Chevrons were bowled out for 178 runs in 49.1 overs, the hosts chased down the target in 38.5 overs after losing six wickets. In the opening game of the series, the hosts won by 97 runs after scoring 288/9. 

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Ireland Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 2nd Women's ODI: Irish bowlers were very disciplined

In the second WODI on Monday, Zimbabwe Women had a poor start as the visitors were struggling at 54/4. Only the captain Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa managed to cross the 15-run mark in that innings, along with 31 extras (including 23 wides). While the skipper scored 56 off 92 balls with six fours, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 45 off 86 balls with two fours. Their fifth-wicket partnership of 94 runs was the only shining point for the visitors in that innings. Lady Chevrons lost their last four wickets for only 12 runs. 

Eight Iris bowlers were used in the WODI series finale, where Alana Dalzell (4/36) and Lara McBride (3/22) picked up multiple wickets in that innings. 

Irish skipper and Orla Prendergast denied any shocker

Chasing down the target, the hosts were losing at regular intervals, but the opener and captain Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast played solid innings to secure the series victory. While Lewis scored 44 off 59 balls with six fours, the Player of the Match Prendergast was not out for 67 runs in 72 balls, where she hit seven fours. Prendergast also won the Player of the Series award for recording 117 runs and two wickets in this two-match Women's ODI series. 

Among the Lady Chevrons, Loreen Tshuma fought hard in her ten-over quota along with the wicket-taking new-ball bowlers, but those weren't enough for the visitors to claim a stunning win. Tshuma ended the game with the bowling figures of 10-1-35-4. 

Cricket Ireland has announced its central contract list for 2025 annually, which includes 48 male and female cricketers. The announcement comes ahead of the women’s T20I series against Zimbabwe and the England men's T20I series. The two most prominent names included in the list are Matthew Humphreys and Sarah Forbes, as both are given full-time contracts after an impressive performance.

Humphreys, who was earlier under a retainer contract, impressed in Ireland's historic Test against Zimbabwe and is now upgraded to the full-time squad. Sarah Forbes' excellent work during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier campaign ensured that she is now included in Ireland's list of the best centrally contracted female cricketers.

Cricket Ireland's central contract format has changed to provide flexibility with various categories like full-time, part-year, educational, and casual contracts based on the individual player's situation. The system also provides for the non-contracted player to be given short-term contracts during the course of the year in accordance with team needs.

Graeme West, Director of High Performance for Cricket Ireland, emphasized the importance of the central contracts in fostering talent across the board. “They allow the players the time and opportunity to access specialist coaching, as well as healthcare and lifestyle support services, which create a more holistic approach to player development. Cricket Ireland’s investment in these contracts helps the growth of our sport through ensuring we are competitive and visible on the world stage—and also through creating role models and heroes to inspire a new generation to enter the sport,” he said.

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Centrally-Contracted Players (2025)

Full-time contracts:

• Men: Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
  
• Women: Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Sarah Forbes, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis, Sophie MacMahon, Jane Maguire, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Freya Sargent
  

Part-year contracts:

Stephen Doheny, Fionn Hand, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Foster, Liam McCarthy, Morgan Topping

Educational contracts:

Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Louise Little, Joanna Loughran, Aimee Maguire, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector

Casual contracts:

Abbi Harrison, Kia McCartney, Jenni Jackson, Lara McBride, Ellie McGee