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STORMONT – Ireland Men relinquished a strong position by the end of Day Three of the Test against Zimbabwe on Saturday but victory still remains in reach in Belfast.

Making history by playing their first Test in Northern Ireland this week, supporters turned out in their droves as a sell-out crowd witnessed a fascinating day’s play unfold.

Despite a number of missed opportunities in the field, Ireland managed to bowl Zimbabwe out for 197 shortly after tea to leave them a fourth innings target of 158 for victory.

A series of dropped catches and Zimbabwe’s top-scoring duo of Dion Myers (57) and Sean Williams (40) frustrated the Irish bowlers but they ably stuck to the task to give their batters an achievable total to chase down.

Andy McBrine (4-38), Craig Young (2-37) and Mark Adair (2-42) were the pick with the ball, while Matthew Humphreys was delighted to claim a first Test wicket of his career when Brian Bennett was excellently caught at short-leg by PJ Moor.

Ireland’s pursuit of back-to-back Test wins got off to the worst possible start, however.

They lost first innings top-scorer PJ Moor without scoring to Richard Ngarava and Curtis Campher fell to the same bowler the very next ball. Captain Andrew Balbirnie then departed to Blessing Muzarabani one over later, leaving Ireland 7-3 after just three overs.

Ireland were further reduced to 33-5 when late rain brought a premature end to the day, with the hosts requiring 125 more runs.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland v Zimbabwe, 1st Test, Day 3, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland — 27 July 2024

Zimbabwe 1st innings 210 (71.3 overs; P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A McBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42) 
Ireland 1st innings 250 (58.3 overs; PJ Moor 79, A McBrine 28; T Chivanga 3-39, B Muzarabani 3-53)
Zimbabwe 2nd innings 197 (71 overs; D Myers 57, S Williams 40; A McBrine 4-38, C Young 2-37, M Adair 2-42) 
Ireland 2nd innings 33-5 (8 overs; P Stirling 10; R Ngarava 4-12)

See full scorecard