250/10 (58.3)
CR : 4.27
210/10 (71.3)
CR : 2.94
Ireland won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Andy McBrine
3/37 & 4/3828(45) & 55(82)
IRE won by 4 wickets
17:44 IST and 13:14 Local Time | Ireland were reeling behind after the stumps of day 3 but they have fought back splendidly to get the victory, their first victory in the home soil.
Coming to bat first on the first day, debutant Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure started the innings solidly. Gumbie departed for 49 while Masvaure scored 74 runs. After their dismissal, only captain Craig Ervine contributed significantly for his 35. Zimbabwe got wrapped up for just 210 runs. Andy McBrine and Barry McCarthy took 3 wickets each while Mark Adair took 2 wickets. Craig Young and Curtis Campher took a wicket each.
In the second innings, Ireland were off to a good start as their opener, the former Zimbabwe-cricketer Peter Moor score his sixth test fifty. Moor contributed 71 runs and their was some assistance from Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling by which they got to a comfortable position. But excellent comeback from Zimbabwe made sure that they get reduced to 203 for 9, trailing by 7 runs. But the last wicket partnership between McBrine and Matthew Humphreys was off 47 runs and that helped the home side to get a lead of 40 runs. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga took 3 wickets each while two wickets each were taken by Tendai Chatara and Sean Williams.
Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure started the third innings well but once they got out, Dion Myers took the charge. He registered a good partnership with Sean Williams, who got out for 40 and Myers completed his fifty to score 57 runs off 142 balls before getting out. Some small contributions from the lower order helped Zimbabwe to take the lead to 157 and giving Ireland a target of 158 runs. Andy McBrine was the star with the ball taking 4 wickets while Mark Adair and Craig Young took 2 wickets each for the home side.
Chasing the 158-run target, Ireland found themselves in a tumultuous condition at 21 for 5. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani derailed their top order and barring Paul Stirling nobody could score a double digit run. They ended the 3rd day on 33 for 5 with Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine on crease. However, from the start of the fourth day's play, the Irish batters were comprehensive in their approach. Tucker and McBrine hit a few boundaries to take their team to a comfortable position. Lorcan Tucker got his half-century in 56 balls but got out in the 64th ball scoring 56. Andy McBrine remained unbeaten on 55 till the end and Mark Adair remained unbeaten on 24 to help his team to go past the victory line. Richard Ngarava took 4 wickets while Blessing Muzarabani took a couple of wickets.
Coming to bat first on the first day, debutant Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure started the innings solidly. Gumbie departed for 49 while Masvaure scored 74 runs. After their dismissal, only captain Craig Ervine contributed significantly for his 35. Zimbabwe got wrapped up for just 210 runs. Andy McBrine and Barry McCarthy took 3 wickets each while Mark Adair took 2 wickets. Craig Young and Curtis Campher took a wicket each.
In the second innings, Ireland were off to a good start as their opener, the former Zimbabwe-cricketer Peter Moor score his sixth test fifty. Moor contributed 71 runs and their was some assistance from Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling by which they got to a comfortable position. But excellent comeback from Zimbabwe made sure that they get reduced to 203 for 9, trailing by 7 runs. But the last wicket partnership between McBrine and Matthew Humphreys was off 47 runs and that helped the home side to get a lead of 40 runs. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga took 3 wickets each while two wickets each were taken by Tendai Chatara and Sean Williams.
Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure started the third innings well but once they got out, Dion Myers took the charge. He registered a good partnership with Sean Williams, who got out for 40 and Myers completed his fifty to score 57 runs off 142 balls before getting out. Some small contributions from the lower order helped Zimbabwe to take the lead to 157 and giving Ireland a target of 158 runs. Andy McBrine was the star with the ball taking 4 wickets while Mark Adair and Craig Young took 2 wickets each for the home side.
Chasing the 158-run target, Ireland found themselves in a tumultuous condition at 21 for 5. Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani derailed their top order and barring Paul Stirling nobody could score a double digit run. They ended the 3rd day on 33 for 5 with Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine on crease. However, from the start of the fourth day's play, the Irish batters were comprehensive in their approach. Tucker and McBrine hit a few boundaries to take their team to a comfortable position. Lorcan Tucker got his half-century in 56 balls but got out in the 64th ball scoring 56. Andy McBrine remained unbeaten on 55 till the end and Mark Adair remained unbeaten on 24 to help his team to go past the victory line. Richard Ngarava took 4 wickets while Blessing Muzarabani took a couple of wickets.
Time for the post-match presentation.
Player of the Match: Andy McBrine
Andy McBrine(Player of the Match): "Fantastic win. I and Lorcan tried to be positive and post runs on the board. That has paid off. We didn't think last night and we wanted to take one ball at a time.
We have played a few tests with a few more to come but the first victory in home soil is special. Our bowling coach is working well behind the scenes and the hard work has paid off. It was not an easy wicket to bowl on. With seamers bowling from one end, I tried to stick to my basics."
We have played a few tests with a few more to come but the first victory in home soil is special. Our bowling coach is working well behind the scenes and the hard work has paid off. It was not an easy wicket to bowl on. With seamers bowling from one end, I tried to stick to my basics."
Craig Ervine(Zimbabwe Captain): "These games that move very fast are very exciting t watch. The conditions were very good, we enjoyed playing here. We made the same mistake of losing our momentum like we did in the first innings. We had a few debutants and it is all about inexperience.
Our cricketers were excellent. Pacers utilized the conditions very well. Appreciations o Tanaka Chivanga for showing the guts. I see a bright future in the three pace bowlers. Victor was struggling with control and so we left him out in the playing xi. All the games we played against Ireland was very competitive and we are eager to play them in our home soil."
Our cricketers were excellent. Pacers utilized the conditions very well. Appreciations o Tanaka Chivanga for showing the guts. I see a bright future in the three pace bowlers. Victor was struggling with control and so we left him out in the playing xi. All the games we played against Ireland was very competitive and we are eager to play them in our home soil."
Andy Balbirnie(Ireland Captain): "We kept the belief in us. We had two batters unbeaten who are the best test batters of us. The morning conditions were good and they had a good partnership to help us go over the line. You work hard for four days and you get the reward. We played as a team and we are thrilled to get the results.
We enjoyed the Test match. Credit to the groundsmen for preparing the pitch like this. I think the feeling of back-to-back test wins is surreal. Andy McBrine is such a likeable cricketer and I think the way he has performed with both bat and ball shows volume about his ability. Rightfully he is the player of the match."
We enjoyed the Test match. Credit to the groundsmen for preparing the pitch like this. I think the feeling of back-to-back test wins is surreal. Andy McBrine is such a likeable cricketer and I think the way he has performed with both bat and ball shows volume about his ability. Rightfully he is the player of the match."
Irish skipper Andy Balbirnie collects the trophy and goes for a ceremonial photograph. After completing the formalities, he joins his teammates for celebration.
That marks the end of our coverage of the one-off Test between Ireland and Zimbabwe. Ireland won the series, their first-ever Test victory on home soil. For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on behalf of scorer/analyst Asraj Khan.