Ireland beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in one-off Test
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‘BPL holds a special place in my heart’ – Paul Stirling
5 Jan 25
reland beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in a one-off Test in Belfast on Sunday after recovering from a dramatic top-order collapse.
Set just 158 to win, Ireland slumped to 33-5 at the close of Saturday's third day, with Zimbabwe left-arm quick Richard Ngarava doing the bulk of the damage in a sensational burst of 4-12 in four overs.
But in the first Test to be played in Northern Ireland, the home side lost just one more wicket on Sunday.
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Lorcan Tucker (56) and Andy McBrine, who completed a fine all-round match to be 55 not out, turned the tide with a stand of 96 after coming together when Ireland had collapsed to 21-5.
Mark Adair (24 not out), who was born in nearby Holywood, then hit the winning boundary as Ireland finished on 158-6 to triumph with more than a day to spare.
Brief scores, close on day four:
Zimbabwe 210 (P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A McBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42) and 197 (D Myers 57, S Williams 40; A McBrine 4-38) v Ireland 250 (PJ Moor 79; T Chivanga 3-39, B Muzarabani 3-53) and 158-6 (L Tucker 56, A McBrine 55 no; R Ngarava 4-53)
