STORMONT – An historic day for Irish cricket ended with Ireland Men’s bowlers roaring back in stunning fashion against Zimbabwe on Day One of their one-off Test.
This week sees the first ever Test match take place in Northern Ireland, an occasion marked before the start of play by the presence of the country’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, and Belfast Lord Mayor, Micky Murray.
There was also a special moment for the family of the late Roy Torrens, who was honoured with the unveiling of the Roy Torrens Bell.
Torrens was a giant of Irish cricket as a player, president, team manager and all-round advocate for the game and his legacy will now live on with the ringing of the bell before each Ireland home game.
On the pitch, Andrew Balbirnie called right at the toss and put Zimbabwe into bat first, a decision that looked to backfire when Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure took the tourists to 85-0 at lunch.
Ireland’s bowlers responded superbly, however.
Barry McCarthy took the first two wickets to fall and Craig Young removed Zimbabwe captain Craig Irvine shortly before the break, but Masvaure remained resolute at tea.
The Zimbabwe opener fell to Curtis Campher soon after the start of the final session though as Ireland’s bowlers continued to turn the game in their favour.
Quite literally in the case of Andy McBrine, the off-spinner removing Sean Williams and Clive Madande in successive deliveries. McBrine would be denied a hat-trick but went on to claim figures of 3-37, while McCarthy took 3-42 to reduce Zimbabwe from 97-0 to 210 all-out.
Heavy rain at the conclusion of the first innings denied Ireland’s batters a crack at Zimbabwe’s total but they will come back refreshed to do so at the start of Day Two.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland v Zimbabwe, 1st Test, Day 1, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland — 25 July 2024
Zimbabwe 1st innings 210 (71.3 overs; P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A MCBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42)
