The winning target was not too big, 158 runs. But losing 5 wickets out of 21 runs, Ireland was falling out of the match. In the end, they won a great victory by turning in a record pair. Andy Balbirnie’s Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets in the only Test in Belfast. It was the Irish’s first Test win at home.
After posting 143 for 2 in the first innings, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 210 in a dramatic collapse. Ireland made 250 in reply. In the second innings, Dion Myers’ 57 and Shaun Williams’ 40 runs in the fighting innings, the Zimbabweans were all out for 197 runs.
The Irish were supposed to win by laughing. But Zimbabwean pacer Richard Ngarava made it difficult. He cornered Ireland by taking 4 wickets alone. From there, Andy McBreen and Lorcan Tucker’s 96-run partnership made a great comeback for the Irish. This is Ireland’s best partnership for the sixth wicket in Tests. Earlier, Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker had set a record of 80 runs on this wicket.
Although Tucker was dismissed for 56, McBreen left the field unbeaten on 55 with the team winning. Mark Adair remained unbeaten on 24 runs.
