Match Details
Date & Time:
25th Jul 2024, 3:30 PM
Match Number:
One-off Test
Match Results:
IRE Won By 4 wickets
One-off Test
Stormont
210/10 (71.3)&197/10 (71.0)
250/10 (58.3)&158/6 (36.1)
Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets
Player of the match
Andy McBrine - IRE
Player of the Match
210/10 (71.3 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Prince Masvaure
74(152)
Joylord Gumbie
49(99)
Andy McBrine
3-37(13)
Barry McCarthy
3-42(15.3)
250/10 (58.3 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Peter Moor
79(105)
Andy McBrine
28(45)
Tanaka Chivanga
3-39(10)
Blessing Muzarabani
3-53(17)
197/10 (71.0 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Dion Myers
57(142)
Sean Williams
40(65)
Andy McBrine
4-38(23)
Craig Young
2-37(10)
158/6 (36.1 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Lorcan Tucker
56(64)
Andy McBrine
55(82)
Richard Ngarava
4-53(11)
Blessing Muzarabani
2-52(13)
All
Wickets
4s
6s
ZIM 1
ZIM 2
IRE 1
IRE 2
Right then, Andy Balbirnie now walks up to the podium and is handed the trophy for winning the One-off Test match and the Irish players on him in celebration. Also, that is it from this historic Test match and it is Ireland who have reigned victorious at home against a determined Zimbabwe side. We hope you enjoyed are coverage but ticketing action doesn't stop here as the Final of the Women's Asia Cup between hosts Sri Lanka and India is nearing a fascinating conclusion. You can switch tabs and read our coverage of that game. Until next time then, take care and goodbye!
The skipper of Ireland, Andy Balbirnie is up for a chat. Balbirnie says that they had a chat last night with their two best batters about how to execute the plan. He continues that the morning pitch today was really flat, and very good to bat on. He further says that the local boy Andy McBrine helped them to win this match. He also says that the win would not help them in any qualification but he is really feeling proud of how his boys have reacted to win the match. He ends up saying they have worked hard for this and got the result at the end of the day.
Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe says that certainly these games that move pretty fast are exciting to watch and the conditions were such that there was always something in it for the bowlers as well as the batters. Adds that they made the same mistake in both innings with the bat as the lower order let them down and there were a couple of debutants who will learn from this experience. Mentions that the pacers were excellent and utilized the conditions well and would have liked to bowl a few more overs on Day 3 but it is what it is and goes on to applaud Tanaka Chivanga for coming back out after the concussion. On Victor Nyauchi, he says that Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani had bowled well and wanted to give those to another burst but unfortunately, it didn't work out. On their brewing rivalry with Ireland, he says every time they play, it is a right affair and is looking forward to more such encounters in the future.
Andy McBrine is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning display with both bat and ball. McBrine starts by saying that he feels fantastic to win the match. He continues that he and Lorcan Tucker had a good partnership which made the situation positive. He continues that on the previous day, they were thankful that the rain came on. He further adds that he is working on his bowling and is happy to gather wickets and says that he is more than satisfied with his pacers. Ends by saying that he is happy that his family is here to witness this exceptional match.
The Presentation ceremony...
Day 4 was the deciding day and overhead conditions changed completely which allowed Ireland back in the game but credit must go to the pair of Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine who came out with a positive intent and put the bad balls away. Both of them went on to score half centuries but it was the willy southpaw, McBrine who stayed on till the end and along with Mark Adair got his side over the line. McBrine had a game to remember as he picked up 7 wickets across the two innings and scored a match-winning fifty in the fourth innings. Adair, who was the hero of Ireland's first Test victory a few months ago, fitted hit the winning runs even after suffering a dislocated finger on Day 3.
Day 3 is known as the moving day in Test cricket and boy, we saw the game move at a rapid pace. Zimbabwe faltered early in their second innings with both openers being dismissed for a low score. Dion Myers and Sean Williams led the fight back for the visitors as the hosts kept on spilling catch after catch. Once the partnership was broken, the Irish bowlers broke through the lower order and bundled out Zimbabwe for 197 runs. Needing 158 for the win, Ireland walked out to bat under gloomy conditions and Richard Ngarava bowled a stellar spell and the visitors ended the day in pole position as Ireland were left reeling at 33/5.
Day 2 was a similar story as Ireland batted decently in the first session but lost their way after Lunch and it required a substantial last-wicket stand between Andy McBrine and Matthew Humphreys to bail them out. Zimbabwe were brilliant in terms of picking up wickets but as many as 59 extras meant that they conceded a first-innings lead of 40 runs and had it all to do with the bat.
The game can be termed as a slow-boiler to an extent as in the first session on Day 1, not much happened. However, post-Lunch, the game opened up and we saw wickets fall left, right and center. Day 1 was cut short but a total of 71.3 overs were bowled which was enough for Zimbabwe to be bowled out for 210 runs. Prince Masvaure starred with the bat as Barry McCarthy and Andy McBrine picked up three wickets each for Ireland.
IRELAND HAVE THEIR SECOND TEST WIN! Stormont in Belfast - the newest Test cricket venue has just witnessed an instant classic between Ireland and Zimbabwe. Hosts Ireland have gone on to win back-to-back Test matches for the first time ever, just a few months after notching up their maiden Test win. Zimbabwe played their part though and could have won the game but it wasn't meant to be. A joyous moment for Ireland as it is their first home Test victory as well and the applause from the crowd don't seem to stop.
Over 37
4
Mark Adair*
24 (38)
Andy McBrine
55 (82)
Sean Williams
0/21 (5.1)
IRE
158/6
4
36.1
Sean Williams to Mark Adair ,FOUR! Done and dusted! The crowd erupts as history has been made in Belfast, two back-to-back Test wins for the Ireland! Sean Williams bowls it fuller on and around off. Mark Adair strides out and uses his bottom hand to loft it over the mid on region and no one at the long on fence to stop that. Mark Adair finishes off in style and it's a huge day for the Irish cricket team. Ireland beats Zimbabwe by four wickets in their first meeting in a Test match.
Over 36
0
0
1
1
1
0
Andy McBrine*
55 (82)
Mark Adair
20 (37)
Richard Ngarava
4/53 (11)
IRE
154/6
0
35.6
Richard Ngarava to Andy McBrine ,Huge appeal once again but nothing from the Umpire! Richard Ngarava bowls much fuller on middle and leg angling in. Andy Balbirnie tries to flick it but misses on the inner edge. The ball thumps the pad but it seems it would past the leg side.
0
35.5
Richard Ngarava to Andy McBrine ,Back of a length on middle. Andy McBrine shuffles a bit to pull it towards square leg but misses and thumps his stomach. The ball dropped down and got stuck in his pad. He walks off and hands the delivery to the bowler.
1
35.4
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,Singles are coming comfortably now! Fuller delivery just outside off, angling it away from the batter. Mark Adair hangs back and dabs it towards the backward point region for a single.
1
35.3
Richard Ngarava to Andy McBrine ,Excellent running and every run is now being applauded by the crowd, just 5 more required! Hard length on middle and angling in, Mark Adair pushes the ball down in front of mid on and scampers across for one.
1
35.2
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,On a good length and shaping it back into the pads, Mark Adair stabs the ball down wide of the keeper down the leg side and runs a single.
0
35.1
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,Top delivery! On a hard length on off, this one shoots off the deck and angles across sharply as Mark Adair plays inside the line of the ball.
Over 35
0
1
0
0
1
2
Andy McBrine*
54 (79)
Mark Adair
18 (34)
Sean Williams
0/17 (5)
IRE
151/6
0
34.6
Sean Williams to Andy McBrine ,Quicker now, short and on leg. Andy McBrine nudges it towards square leg for no runs.
1
34.5
Sean Williams to Mark Adair ,Drangs his lengh back aorund off. Mark Adair cuts it towards deep cover region and gets another important single.
0
34.4
Sean Williams to Mark Adair ,On a length and on leg. Mark Adair clips it towards the mad at mid-wicket.
0
34.3
Sean Williams to Mark Adair ,Short and aorund off. Mark Adair eases it towards the cover region.
1
34.2
Sean Williams to Andy McBrine ,Short delivery on middle and leg. Andy McBrine flicks it towards square leg for a single. 8 runs needed now!
2
34.1
Sean Williams to Andy McBrine ,In air.. but safe! It looks like Andy McBrine wants to finish it off early! Flat and fuller on off and middle. Andy McBrine comes dancing down the track to loft it, but fails to gain the desired elevation. The ball drops safe at long on the region where Tendai Chatara has a chase but fails to get the skier. Two runs taken in between !
With just 11 runs more required for Ireland, the umpires have officially extended play!
Over 34
0
0
4
1
1
1
Mark Adair*
17 (31)
Andy McBrine
51 (76)
Richard Ngarava
4/50 (10)
IRE
147/6
0
33.6
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,On a length on middle. Mark Adair flicks it towards mid-wicket.
0
33.5
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,Back of a length just outside off. Mark Adair hops and blocks it down the pitch.
4
33.4
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,FOUR! The timing of that flick was just exquisite! Runs are coming thick and fast from the Irish willows! Richard Ngarava bowls it fuller on middle and shapes it towards the middle stump. Mark Adair detects the swing and glances it from the crease towards the deep mid-wicket fence for four more runs added into his account.
There seems to be a slight delay as Richard Ngarava seems to have swallowed an insect and is just checking out his throat. Also, there seems to be an issue with the foot marks but we are now good to continue.
1
33.3
Richard Ngarava to Andy McBrine ,Short and wide outside off. Andy McBrine eases it towards deep point and gets another single.
1
33.2
Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair ,Fuller on the pads. Mark Adair flicks it towards fine leg for a single.
1
33.1
Richard Ngarava to Andy McBrine ,FIFTY FOR Andy McBrine! What an exceptional inning by one of the experienced players of Ireland! This one is short and wide outside off. Andy McBrine stabs it towards the deep point region and takes a comfortable single. He raises his bat to the occasion and soaks all the applause from the Irish spectators.
Richard Ngarava is brought back into the attack and Craig Ervine will be hoping he pulls off a miracle just as he did on Day 3.
Over 33
0
2
4
1
0
0
Mark Adair*
12 (27)
Andy McBrine
49 (74)
Victor Nyauchi
0/7 (1)
IRE
140/6
0
32.6
Victor Nyauchi to Mark Adair ,Fuller delivery on off and angles it in towards the batter. Mark Adair defends it down.
2
32.5
Victor Nyauchi to Mark Adair ,Fuller on pads. Mark Adair eases it towards vacant mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs.
4
32.4
Victor Nyauchi to Mark Adair ,FOUR! EXCELLENT SHOT! Victor Nyauchi pitches it up outside off. Mark Adair plants his front foot and drives it beautifully through the cover region. The shot was just like the cream on the top of a cake. Only 20 more required for Ireland now.
Date & Time:
25th Jul 2024, 3:30 PM
Match Number:
One-off Test
Match Results:
IRE Won By 4 wickets
Just the right stats to help you determine which team statistically has the upper hand
ZIM vs IRE
*Last 3 years
2
No. of Matches
0
ZIM
2
IRE
0
Tie
over 37
4
Runs 4
over 36
0
1
1
1
0
0
Runs 3
over 35
2
1
0
0
1
0
Runs 4
over 34
1
1
1
4
0
0
Runs 7
over 33
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
4
2
0
Runs 12
Batting Friendly
Not Available
Not Available
1st Batting Average
Highest Score Chased
No. of Matches
Won by team
1st Batting
%
2nd Batting
%
Wicket Split
Pacer
% | W
Spin
% | W
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17 Jul 2024Madande, Campbell among four uncapped players in ZIM’s squad for Ireland Tests
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12 Jul 2024Umpire:
Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Third Umpire:
Mark Hawthorne (IRE)
Match Referee:
Jeff Crowe (NZ)