Zimbabwe against Ireland 2024/25, ZIM vs ire only Test Camport, 06. – 10. February 2025

Ireland 260 (McBrine 90*, Adair 78, Muzarabani 7-58, Ngarava 2-65) Trail Zimbabwe 72 for 1 (Welch 33*, Kaitano 26*, McCarthy 1-25) with 188 races

What started as a potentially one -sided day in Bulawayo was anything but. However, Ireland’s zig-zagged through several ups and downs ended Zimbabwe to dominate the day.

In response, Zimbabwe Ben Curran lost early, but Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch’s Healthy Starts 21 overs to Stubble, with the hosts behind with 188 races.

The day began under sunny sky, but the first one over showed the vagaries at a pitch that batters could not trust. Peter Moor was lured by balls outside, which brought him a border of fourth ball, but then the lack of jump and pace got him trapped his bat down too late and cut the ball to Curran in Cordon.

Curtis Campher got a Jaffa who stitched away and beat his bat while trying to defend in the third over, but then fell and tried to counter -return Richard Ngarava in the fourth – the only dough in Ireland’s top five that did not fall to Muzarabani . Andy Balbirnie, who was in control of the full balls, was the next one to go out and try to flick a short ball that stopped in the field.

Muzarabani saved his best ball for Harry Tector, who nailed away to take a lead from Flick to get him caught by slip. He was then helped by the track that offered extra pace and jump to undo Paul Stirling, caught by slip. And just like it, Ireland has lost half of their side with nine overs that are not yet bowled.

Tucker initially broke the springs by punishing errors in length, especially short balls, which he cut and pulled with contempt. But he was dismissed to chop on a full ball from Trevor Gwandu in the 16th over, for 33 out of 28, Ireland 82 for 6.

Adair then took over the attacking role from Tucker and hit three boundaries from Gwandu two overs before lunch.

Zimbabwe’s plan to use the track was spread after the break as it lost its spice and the ball its hardness. Muzarabani could not find consistency with its line. While his five -Over -Trying form went for only 11 races, his partners -Newman Nyamhuri and Gwandu -were taken for more boundaries as Adair brought a 48 -ball fifty.

Adair, who got a life in the 34th over of Muzarabani, grew in confidence and held the race rate in and about five. But a short and wide loose delivery from Muzarabani proved the downfall of Adair as he tried to cut it through the point. Barry McCarthy glued a bumper to short legs to give Muzarabani his sixth, but at that time Ireland was in a much better condition of 211 for 8.

McBrine, battling at 57, did not strike at the start of the last session, but managed to press Vital running with Craig Young and Matthew Humphreys for the last two wickets. When Humphreys was dismissed in the 57th over, bowled by Ngarava, McBrine was stranded at 90.

Ireland hit early when Curran tried to take advantage of a short and wide ball out of McCarthy and were out of the back. Ireland tried to set attacking fields, but Zimbabwe’s fighters used to pocket two two and two triangles in the two overs after wicket.

In the 11th over, Adair Kaitano beat with a peach that sipped away, but Kaitano and Welch managed to see Zimbabwe through to Stubbe. And it was pretty much even.