Opener Ross Adair struck a brisk 65 as Ireland levelled a three-match Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe with a six-wicket victory in Harare Saturday.
Zimbabwe made 144 with captain Craig Ervine top scoring on 42 and Ireland knocked off the runs with two balls to spare, setting up a series decider Sunday.
Apart from Adair, fellow opener and skipper Andy Balbirnie (33) and Harry Tector (26) made significant contributions.
A former Ulster rugby player, Adair faced 47 deliveries and struck four sixes and two fours at Harare Sports Club.
It was a huge change of fortunes for him as he made only five runs in his international debut Thursday, with Zimbabwe winning by five wickets.
Adair departed after trying to clear long-on off left-arm quick Richard Ngarava, miscuing his shot and picking out Wessly Madhevere.
"My switch to cricket was purely for fun, then I started scoring runs and took it more seriously," said Adair, whose younger brother Mark was also part of the winning team.
"I took my time today and it paid off. I knew if I was patient, the boundaries would come. We pat ourselves on the back, and come back again."
Balbirnie atoned for a poor showing in the first match with his runs coming off 31 balls in an innings that included a six and three fours.
When Adair departed, Ireland were 119/3 and needed 26 runs from four overs to win.
Tector departed with nine still required before George Dockrell hit a six to secure victory.
Leg spinner Ryan Burl was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, taking two wickets for 26 runs in his four-over spell.
With former England Test batter Gary Ballance ruled out by concussion and star Sikandar Raza playing franchise cricket in Bangladesh, Ervine assumed the mantle of chief run-getter.
Put in to bat after losing the toss and one wicket down with just six runs on the board, Ervine took charge with his 40-ball innings, which included four fours.
He was undone when attempting a scoop shot off a back-of-a-length delivery from Graham Hume, top-edging it to fine leg where Tector made the catch.
"We worked pretty hard to set a decent platform of 160, 170, 180 runs," said Ervine.
"But Ireland bowled well and made it difficult for us to get boundaries."
South Africa-born Hume, promoted in place of Barry McCarthy, was the most effective of the Irish bowlers taking three for 17 while Tector took two for 22.
