Mark Adair playing Tests for Ireland

Ireland sealed their first-ever home win in Test cricket, after some thrilling play on the fourth day of their one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Belfast.

On day one (July 25), Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie won the toss and chose to field at Stormont in Belfast, the 123rd venue in men's Test cricket history.

Batting slides define first two innings of Ireland v Zimbabwe

The decision looked an unwise one at first, as Zimbabwean openers Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure saw off the new ball, putting on 50 in 14.3 overs before guiding their side to 85-0 at lunch. But soon after the interval, Gumbie flicked Barry McCarthy to square leg for 49 and bringing an end to a 97-run opening stand.

Thereafter, Ireland struck at regular intervals. Dion Myers was dismissed for 10 and Craig Ervine for five. Curtis Campher then accounted for Masvaure for 74, and Andy McBrine removed Sean Williams soon after to leave Zimbabwe at 193-5. Thereafter, the floodgates opened, and the last five wickets went down for just 17 runs as six batters were dismissed for single-digit scores.

 

 

Irish openers Peter Moor and Andy Balbirnie began their innings on day two, putting on 71 runs before Tanaka Chivanga snared Balbirnie for 19. Like Zimbabwe, Ireland's middle order struggled to string partnerships together, eventually sliding to 165-5 as Moor (79) and Lorcan Tucker fell to consecutive balls.

Ireland soon slipped to 203-9 after that, but 27 not out from No.11 Matthew Humphreys helped them to 250. The hosts were also helped on their way by 59 extras, including 42 byes (coincidentally, Zimbabwe keeper Clive Madande was wearing the number 42).

All-round Andy McBrine helps Ireland to historic home win

Gumbie and Masvaure departed within the first 14 overs of the second innings. A 68-run third-wicket partnership between Dion Myers (57) and Sean Williams (40) was the highlight of the innings, but it was a steep slide after Williams departed with the score on 134. Brian Bennett and Clive Madande went soon after, before Myers was seventh out, on 174. The innings eventually folded for 197, as Andy McBrine finished with 4-38.

Ireland began batting towards the end of day three, but fell victim to a helpful wicket and some fiery fast bowling from Richard Ngarava as they were reduced to 33-5 in just eight overs in pursuit of 158 for a first ever home victory.

 

Tucker and McBrine began cautiously on the fourth morning. They did manage to find boundaries with regularity, adding 40 runs in eight overs to take their own partnership to 52. By the end of the first hour, they had taken their side to 100-5 in 22 overs.

Their stand eventually came to an end on 96 when Tucker ended up chopping Blessing Muzarabani back onto his stumps. Mark Adair, victim of a dislocated finger the previous evening, came in at No.8 to join McBrine. Ireland took 10.2 overs to get the remaining 37 runs as McBrine finished on 55 and Adair remained steadfast with unbeaten 20, including the winning boundary.

Watch: Ireland score all-run five against Zimbabwe

For Zimbabwe, the fourth innings was a case of déjà vu from 2014. On that occasion, they had reduced Bangladesh to 0-3 and 62-6 while defending 101 in Mirpur before Mushfiqur Rahim and Taijul Islam eventually took the hosts over the line.

This win was just Ireland's second in Test cricket, and their second in a row after defeating Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. It was also their first Test victory on home soil. Andy McBrine was named player of the match for his contributions of 3-37, 28, 4-38 and 55 not out.

Zimbabwe 210 (Masvaure 74, McBrine 3-37) & 197 (Myers 57, McBrine 4-38) lost to Ireland 250 (Moor 79, Chivanga 3-39) & 158-6 (Tucker 56, McBrine 55*) by four wickets.

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