Ireland’s opening T20 contest against Zimbabwe had to be abandoned following rain in Harare.

The first game in the three-match series was initially reduced to nine overs with Zimbabwe reaching 77-5 as Ryan Burl top-scored with 36.

He was one of Josh Little’s two victims, with Craig Young also taking 2-15.

However, after the weather again intervened, the contest had to be abandoned, leaving Sunday and Tuesday’s contests at the Harare Sports Club to decide the series.

Ireland have been been in Zimbabwe for three weeks, with the tourists having triumphed in the one-off Test between the countries before the hosts edged a 2-1 victory in a one-day international series.