Ireland collapse against Zimbabwe in one-off Test match
In a dramatic turn of events, Ireland let their advantage slip in the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe after experiencing a batting collapse in the final session. Despite being in a strong position at one point, Ireland was bowled out for just 250 after reaching 165/3, giving Zimbabwe a chance to take control of the game.
Peter Moor shines for Ireland
Peter Moor was the standout performer for Ireland, top-scoring with 79 runs. He kickstarted the Irish innings with a square drive, displaying confidence by regularly finding the boundary in the initial overs. Moor’s partnership with Paul Stirling looked promising until Blessing Muzarabani struck twice in quick succession, putting Ireland in a precarious position at 165/5.
Despite the collapse, Andy McBrine and Matthew Humphreys showed resilience by adding crucial runs for the final wicket, helping Ireland secure a narrow first-innings lead. This partnership frustrated the Zimbabwean attack and kept Ireland in the game.
Zimbabwe’s fielding woes
Zimbabwe’s fielding woes, including conceding byes, allowed Ireland to build a solid total. The visitors missed crucial opportunities to capitalize on the early breakthroughs, with Muzarabani and wicketkeeper Clive Madande having a tough day behind the stumps.
Heading into the second innings, Zimbabwe faces a deficit of 28 runs and will look to capitalize on their strong position to secure a victory in the Test match.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 210 & 12/0 trail Ireland 250 (Peter Moor 79; Tanaka Chivanga 3/39, Blessing Muzarabani 3/53) by 28 runs.