Zimbabwe folds for 210 Despite Masvaure’s 74 before rain forces early stumps call on Day 1 of the Belfast Test

Ireland and Zimbabwe are playing a historic test match in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This match is historical in many terms, such as being the first test match between Ireland and Zimbabwe, and it is also the first-ever test match played in Northern Ireland. 

This match was started with the Irish captain Andrew Balbirnie’s call to bowl first after winning the toss. But for some time this decision of Balbirinie looked like a wrong call when Ireland went with a wicketless first session. It appeared as though Zimbabwe would win in the inaugural Test match played in Northern Ireland. But in less than forty overs, Ireland took all ten wickets, proving that Andy Balbirnie’s decision to bowl first on this overcast morning was well-founded. 

After lunch, Barry McCarthy put on an unrelenting eight-over spell that denied Joylord Gumbie a half-century and made Dion Myers appear foolish, by setting up such a bowling trap that the visitors were unable to escape. Andy McBrine was able to go through the lower half of the middle order after Curtis Campher, who was blowing hot and cold, dismissed Prince Masvaure, who was the highest scorer of Zimbabwe with 74. 

Zimbabwe lost their last six wickets for seventeen runs, a result of the risks their batsmen took, especially after tea. They also suffered their fair share of cheap dismissals. During the middle of the innings, there was another downpour that lasted for roughly thirty minutes, long enough for the umpires to signal stumps. 

Zimbabwe lost three wickets in the afternoon but still had the advantage going into the evening session. Sean Williams took off after the sun had begun to peak out. Campher was bowling the odd beauty, but it was a simple back-of-a-length ball down the leg that strangled Masvaure. 

Williams continued to challenge McBrine despite Masvaure’s tumble, hitting two fours. In the 59th over, the offspinner created a chance, but McCarthy fumbled it while sprinting back from mid-on. But Balbirnie was rewarded for keeping McBrine on when he turned one away, causing Williams to slip. 

Clive Madande’s daring first-ball swipe, attempting to pump the spinner down the ground, landed in the hands of mid-off. Mark Adair’s bouncer forced Brian Bennett to edge a pull to the wicketkeeper, costing Zimbabwe another wicket. The bowling combination of McCarthy and McBrine each grabbed another wicket before McCarthy finished out the innings. McBrine, who began the session with the ball, bowled 11 consecutive overs and took 3 for 32. 

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Thick gloomy sky, enough grass on the pitch, and a lush outfield. The conditions for the seamers in the morning could not have been any better. However, Gumbie and Masvaure dealt with the new ball. Gumbie’s early movement across the wicket to work the ball leg side matched Steven Smith’s batting approach, allowing him to score on balls near the fifth-stump line. Masvaure was more conventional but equally compact in fending off McCarthy and Adair’s new-ball spell.

However, Gumbie, who hit the first six fours of the inning, was frequently able to cover the line and duck beneath the occasional bouncer. The suspense created by Adair and Young’s successive maidens was removed in the next two overs when Masvaure drove over-pitched balls. The let-off balls between the good ones enabled Zimbabwe to strike and go into lunch undefeated. However, Zimbabwe’s advantage was shattered as they lost all ten wickets for 113 runs due to poor batting and bad luck.

Ireland vs Zimbabwe Scorecard: Belfast Test