Zimbabwe were going at almost 10 runs an over before being pegged back and they posted 163-5 from their 20 overs.
Paul Stirling's quick-fire 60 put Ireland in control and they required four runs from the final over to win.
Two wickets fell, and with a run needed from the last ball Stuart Thompson scampered through to take Ireland to 164-7 and a three-wicket win.
Ireland had appeared to be cruising towards their 164 target after opener Paul Stirling's 34-ball 60.
The Middlesex right-hander hit nine boundaries and a six and with captain William Porterfield (31) added 80 runs for the opening wicket but swing bowler Tinashe Panyangara brought Zimbabwe back in the game by taking two wickets in the 15th over.
Panyangara, who was taken for 18 in his first over by Stirling, also dismissed the dangerous Kevin O'Brien (17) in the 18th over and returned to bowl the final over of the innings with Ireland needing just four runs for victory.
In the final over, Ireland lost Ed Joyce (20) to Panyangara and Max Sorensen to a run out off successive balls but managed to scamper for a bye off the last delivery for the winning run with wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor missing a run out.
Earlier, captain Taylor hit six fours and two sixes in scoring 59 off 46 balls after Zimbabwe had been put in.
Elton Chigumbura hit 22 off 13 balls with two sixes in the last over to take Zimbabwe to a competitive total after Irish spinners George Dockrell (2-18) and Andy McBrine (2-26) restricted them in the middle overs.
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