IRELAND’S chequered preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 took a down-swing in Dharamsala when they went down to a six wicket loss with 13 balls to spare.

The batters had topped 150 for the first time in 17 games but that total still looked light in this small stadium here the rarefied air makes the ball sail over the ropes.

William Porterfield (31) continued his purple patch, while Gary Wilson (38) looks to have come into form at the right time, but there are batting headaches for John Bracewell, with just five sixes hit, six fewer than Zimbabwe, and none by the middle order.

Hamilton Mazakadza led his side to victory with an unbeaten 68 as Ireland’s bowlers failed to spark.

They face Oman on Wednesday and the mood won’t have been improved by news of the middle eastern nation’s victory over Scotland.

Ireland 155-8 (20 overs; G Wilson 38, W Porterfield 31)

Zimbabwe 160-4 (17.5 overs; H Mazakadza 68no, R Mutumbami 29, C Young 1-18)