<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Opener Ross Adair struck a brisk 65 as Ireland levelled a three-match Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe with a six-wicket victory in Harare on Saturday.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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 on Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from Adair, fellow opener and skipper Andy Balbirnie (33) and Harry Tector (26) made significant contributions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A former Ulster rugby player, Adair faced 47 deliveries and struck four sixes and two fours at Harare Sports Club.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a huge change of fortunes for him as he made only five runs in his international debut on Thursday, with Zimbabwe winning by five wickets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Adair departed after trying to clear long-on off left-arm quick Richard Ngarava, miscuing his shot and picking out Wessly Madhevere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"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 tomorrow."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leg spinner Ryan Burl was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, taking two wickets for 26 runs in his four-over spell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"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."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>