Zimbabwe vs Ireland, Only Test, Day 1: Muzarabani shines with seven-for

Match Summary

Zimbabwe vs Ireland, Only Test

Zimbabwe *72/1 (21 ov)

Ireland 260/10 (56.4 ov)

Stumps: Day 1 - Zimbabwe trail by 188 runs.

SCORECARD

Match Analysis

After they were reduced to 31 for five, the visitors managed to post 260 in their first innings on a whirlwind day of cricket marked by spirited individual performances and a commanding bowling display from Blessing Muzarabani.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Irish innings began on shaky ground, with Zimbabwe's bowlers striking early to put Ireland on the back foot. Muzarabani drew first blood by dismissing Peter Moor for just four runs, setting the tone for a relentless attack. Moor was undone by a cleverly varying length, slicing a delivery into the hands of Ben Curran at slip.

The wickets kept tumbling as Richard Ngarava got in on the act, sending Campher back to the pavilion after an awkward pull onto his stumps. Muzarabani continued his rampage by removing skipper Andy Balbirnie, caught by Kaitano at short leg. After that, Harry Tector edged a beauty from Muzarabani to slip.

In the ninth over, the gangly bowler unleashed a brute of a delivery that silenced Paul Stirling. With no reverse swing, it was sheer pace and bounce that did the trick. The ball pinged off the leading edge and ballooned straight to Brian Bennett in the slips, leaving Ireland staggering at 31 for five.

Ireland's innings found stability in the impressive counterattack led by Mark Adair and Andy McBrine. Adair played a fearless knock, finding the boundary nine times in his 78 off 91 deliveries. McBrine provided the perfect foil, playing a composed knock on the other end.

Adair’s aggressive approach, particularly after lunch, saw him cracking four boundaries in New Nyamhuri’s two overs after lunch. The bowling all-rounder did suffer a scare when he was on 53, dropped by Muzarabani off Bennett's bowling.

The pair stitched a critical 127-run partnership for the seventh wicket, lifting Ireland from a precarious position before the seamer redeemed himself by dismissing the dangerous Adair with a sharp delivery nicked behind to Nyasha Mayavo.

Blessing Muzarabani capped off a remarkable performance by dismissing Craig Young and taking his seventh wicket with the scalp of Matthew Humphreys, who was deceived by Ngarava's clever slower ball. Despite McBrine's determined efforts, he was left stranded on 90 not out after running out of partners. Ireland’s innings concluded in 56.4 overs.

Zimbabwe’s fairly brisk start was stopped dead in its tracks by Barry McCarthy, who removed Curran for 12. His short-of-a-length delivery was nicked to Lorcan Tucker, who gathered it brilliantly with the gloves. But the combination of Takudzwanashe Kaitano (26) and debutant Nicholas Welch (33) negotiated the last hour. Zimbabwe ended the day on 72 for one, 188 runs behind the Irish score.

Match Stats

Ireland 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Peter Moor - 0.6 ov), 2-17 (Curtis Campher - 3.5 ov), 3-19 (Andy Balbirnie - 4.3 ov), 4-20 (Harry Tector - 6.5 ov), 5-31 (Paul Stirling - 8.5 ov), 6-82 (Lorcan Tucker - 15.4 ov), 7-209 (Mark Adair - 44.6 ov), 8-211 (Barry McCarthy - 46.4 ov), 9-233 (Craig Young - 50.4 ov), 10-260 (Matthew Humphreys - 56.4 ov)

Zimbabwe 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Ben Curran - 5.5 ov)

Playing XI

Zimbabwe 

• Ben Curran
• Takudzwanashe Kaitano
• Nick Welch
• Brian Bennett
• Johnathan Campbell(C)
• Wesley Madhevere
• Nyasha Mayavo(WK)
• Newman Nyamhuri
• Richard Ngarava
• Blessing Muzarabani
• Trevor Gwandu

Ireland 

• Peter Moor
• Andy Balbirnie(C)
• Curtis Campher
• Harry Tector
• Paul Stirling
• Lorcan Tucker(WK)
• Andy McBrine
• Mark Adair
• Barry McCarthy
• Matthew Humphreys
• Craig Young

Match Details

Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025 08:00

Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Toss: Ireland elected to bat

Officials Umpires: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan) Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) Langton Rusere (Zimbabwe TV)

Match Referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)

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