Zimbabwe v Ireland: Late wickets boost Irish hopes in Bulawayo 
2025-02-08
Category: sports

One-off Test, Bulawayo (day three of five):Ireland 260 (56.4 overs): McBrine 90*, M Adair 78; Muzarabani 7-58 & 298 (93.3 overs): Balbirnie 66, Tucker 58; Ngarava 4-55Zimbabwe 267 (86.1): Welch 90, Muzarabani 47; McCarthy 4-75, McBrine 3-59 & 38-3 (15.0 overs): Bennett 15*; Humphreys 1-4Zimbabwe require 254 runs to win with seven wickets left Scorecard
Ireland reduced Zimbabwe to 38-3 at the end of day three with the hosts chasing a target of 292 to win the one-off Test match in Bulawayo.The Irish started the day on 83-1 with captain Andrew Balbirnie hitting 66 and Curtis Campher making 39 as the tourists continued building their lead. A valuable 58 from Lorcan Tucker helped Ireland to a total of 298 with Richard Ngarava taking 4-55.Barry McCarthy, Mark Adair and Matthew Humphreys each picked up a wicket as Zimbabwe struggled in their second innings.Balbirnie and Campher provided a solid foundation for the Irish batters and Tucker's middle-order knock ensured they set a competitive target for Zimbabwe to chase.The Chevrons made a decent start by reaching 18 without loss but the wickets began to tumble.McCarthy was first to strike as he removed Ben Curran and then Adair bowled Takudzwanashe Kaitano to leave Zimbabwe 22-2.Spinner Humphreys trapped Nick Welch for the final wicket of the day and give Ireland the advantage going into day four.