THE Zimbabwe national cricket team lost grip on their one off Test against Ireland yesterday after the Irish turned things around with remarkable bowling.
Zimbabwe started off the day on 72 for 1 in reply to Ireland’s first innings score of 260 all out, but the hosts staggered to a seven-run lead after two innings.
At stumps, Ireland had opened a 76-run lead with nine wickets still intact and they will be looking to stretch their advantage.
Andy Balbirnie (32) and Curtis Campher (14) saw the day through for the tourists, who lost Peter Moor for 30 after the former Zimbabwe international faced 33 balls.
Moor’s wicket fell after he was caught behind off the bowling of seamer Richard Ngarava.
Blessing Muzarabani, who took seven wickets in the first innings, is yet to get a breakthrough in the second, but he also made his mark with the bat after scoring 47 runs to help rescue the situation for the Chevrons.
Zimbabwe lost opener Takudzwa Kaitano with just one having been added on the overnight score after he was trapped leg before by Barry McCarthy.
Brian Bennett joined Nick Welch, but he lasted just 18 balls for his seven runs, while Wesley Madhevere scored 26 off 31, with skipper Jonathan Campbell only contributing four runs as Zimbabwe collapsed.
- Fired up Chevrons ready for World Cup
- Madhevere in injury scare
- Zimbabwe thrash Scotland, makes Super 12 at WT20 world Cup
- Zimbabwe qualify for ICC Men's World Cup Super 12.
Keep Reading
With wickets tumbling at a scary rate, debutant Welch kept on accumulating and he reached his maiden half century.
When he eventually departed at 200 for 9, Zimbabwe had lost Nyasha Mayavo, Newman Nyamhuri and Richard Ngarava and was looking unlikely that they would at least reach Ireland’s total.
But Muzarabani had a good collaboration with Itai Gwandu to take Zimbabwe to 267 all out.
Muzarabani was castled by Mathew Humphreys after facing 68 balls, smashing six boundaries in the process.
This could have been worse for Zimbabwe had it not been for Welch, who scored 90 runs and Muzarabani.
Mark Adair weighed in with two wickets for the tourists.
Day three today promises to be an interesting one as Ireland are looking to build a healthy lead.
But it’s the sort of cricket where wickets are expected to fall.
A rested Muzarabani will be looking to come back refreshed to try and dominate again.
Both sets of batsmen will be looking to improve from their first innings show.
