- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR0.6 Done him with a (reverse)-brute! Checking for the no-ball, all good. The first four balls were all short, all rising. Then, one went fuller. Now, back to short. But... this one don't bounce as much. Moor's hands are high, close to the chest, but the ball rises to top-of-stump height. The bat stabs down with force, bat face closing too, but can only slice the ball right up. Slip ran in front as it ballooned into the palms. 4/14.3 Three down in 25 minutes!. Short leg is deep and Balbirnie plops it straight to him. He played for pace, but that stuck in the pitch a bit and he was too early into the pitch. The fourth-stump ball was on a length, so there was no time to adjust the shot. The bat-face was closing, which compounded Balbirnie's problem. Got a leading edge as he hopped back in and the ball popped to Kaitano. Zimbabwe are partying on this two-paced surface 19/33.5 Pulled onto the stumps! No-ball check again. This is tighter.... From the off-side replay, it looks like it could be a no-ball, but Balbirnie's in the way. Well, it's not really, the leg-side replay confirms. Not a short ball, maybe around the eight-metre mark. Was angling away to fourth stump, maybe a bit of seam movement too. Campher tried to pull it into the ground. Didn't hold back the power, smashes the stumps. 17/26.5 Peach from the Muzz! Very little Tector could've done about that Turned him into an S, before x-ing into slip's hands. Fullish ball was heading to the outer-half of leg stump, but then, it seamed away. Tector tried nudging it towards mid-on, so the bat-face was slightly closed. No time or space to adjust the shot. Hit either the leading edge, maybe around the back of the bat, and went to slip at a low-ish height. To the left Kaitano tumbles, and snags it. Party ensues among the Zimbabwe players 20/48.5 No reverse, this is straight-up brute! It's pace, it's bounce, it's rush. Back of length angling in towards off stump. Stirling went across, got behind the line if not inside it and tried to work it across to the leg side. The pace and bounce had ball ping off the leading edge before he knew it, it popped right up and was taken by Bennett, who was in the slips. 31/515.4 Chops on! Fuller length ball with slight deviation away from the batter, Tucker tried to smash it through the covers off the front foot, missed the line of the ball as he plays the cover drive, thick inside edge of the bat and smashes the stumps! He seemed to be really disappointed in himself after playing the shot. 82/644.6 Short, wide, and nicked behind off the outside edge! Short of a length ball wide outside off shaping away, wild swing of the bat, tried to slice it over backward point, beaten by the extra pace and late movement off the pitch, gets a thin outside edge of the bat and Adair has to depart! 209/746.4 Soft dismissal, and Muzrabani gets his sixth wicket! Banged in short pitched ball on the stump, McCarthy attempts to pull it away to the on-side, missed the length of the ball, failed to connect and strikes the glove, easy catch for the short leg fielder, Madhevere goes back a few steps to finish the catch. 211/850.4 Muzarabani is the third Zimbabwe bowler to pick up a Test seven-for. Young helped out by going for a wild pull. Made room and got followed. Edged it onto the helmet and the ball popped to forward square leg 233/956.4 Softie. McBrine stranded on 90. Slower ball on a length, at leg stump had Humphreys flicking a touch too early. It was angling into the pad, so the shot was on. But Ngarava's deception had the final word 260/10Extras17 (b 6, lb 3, nb 7, w 1)TOTAL260 all out (56.4 Overs, RR: 4.58, 285 minutes)Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Peter Moor, 0.6 ov), 2-17 (Curtis Campher, 3.5 ov), 3-19 (Andy Balbirnie, 4.3 ov), 4-20 (Harry Tector, 6.5 ov), 5-31 (Paul Stirling, 8.5 ov), 6-82 (Lorcan Tucker, 15.4 ov), 7-209 (Mark Adair, 44.6 ov), 8-211 (Barry McCarthy, 46.4 ov), 9-233 (Craig Young, 50.4 ov), 10-260 (Matthew Humphreys, 56.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB B Muzarabani 18 1 58 7 3.22 0 0 R Ngarava 13.4 1 65 2 4.75 0 2 NT Nyamhuri 7 0 42 0 6 1 2 T Gwandu 6 1 53 1 8.83 0 3 BJ Bennett 12 1 33 0 2.75 0 0
06/02Live
Only Test, Ireland tour of Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, Feb 6-10 2025
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![Ireland]( "Ireland")
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![Zimbabwe]( "Zimbabwe")
171/6 * (50.2 ov)
Current Run Rate
CRR
3.37
Minimum Ov. Rem
Min. Ov. Rem
60.0
Last 10 Ov (Run Rate)
Last 10 Ov (RR)
29/4 (2.9)
06/02Live
Only Test, Ireland tour of Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, Feb 6-10 2025
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![Ireland]( "Ireland")
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![Zimbabwe]( "Zimbabwe")
171/6 * (50.2 ov)
Current Run Rate
CRR
3.37
Minimum Ov. Rem
Min. Ov. Rem
60.0
Last 10 Ov (Run Rate)
Last 10 Ov (RR)
29/4 (2.9)
- BATSMENRB4s6sSR23.2 Seam in and Kaitano's trapped lbw! Heart of a length, lands around fourth stump and decks in. Kaitano took a small step forward and tried to play the line. Bat was next to pad, but it hit him on the back leg, top of pad. Height was likely the only thing that could've saved the batter, but it looked out. No reviews available for this Test, just FYI 77/25.5 Edged and taken! Short of a length ball wide outside off, Curran attempts to slice it through the point area, misjudged the length of the ball as it kept a bit low, thick outside edge of the bat and a brilliant grab by Tucker behind the stumps, moving to his left side and grabbing it in front of the first slip fielder! 26/129.6 Through him, McCarthy points to one of his team-mates. Likely the one who's helped him set that up. Smart change of release point as Bennett went wide of the crease and arrowed a fullish length ball in towards middle. It landed around a fifth-stump line and Bennett was caught in-between the front and back foot. Tried to push it straight but the full-faced bat couldn't cut the diagonal line of the ball. He's squared up and the bails fly. Two wickets in the first 45 wickets, both bowler's wickets. Shows how good Ireland have been on a pitch that's easing out. 97/341.1 smart catching! Full ball on middle. Turning in. Looks to flick it with the turn. Square leg moves to his right to catch, but he can't hold on, scooping it instead, and the keeper swoops across to grab the rebound. That's a third wicket this session for the visitors 143/441.4 perishes! Campbell looks distraught. Fullish ball outside off. Bit of turn away. Campbell goes back and tries to punch it in front of square, but ends up hitting it straight to cover point. Catching practice, and that's two wickets in the over 147/549.6 Celebrappeal from the keeper, good reason for it too. Missed sweep and it's salmon trout Was a fullish length ball that landed in line and hit him on the right leg. Left knee was on the ground. Mayavo's back foot slid and it hit him on the thigh, right in front of middle stump 171/650.4 Seam, bounce, taken at second slip! McCarthy hits the goodest of good lengths, maybe a touch back of length if at all, for a channel ball that takes the shoulder of the bat. It seamed away a touch and trapped Nyamhuri in the crease. He tried to defend with bat close to body but the ball was allowed a bit more space to deviate and by the time the bottom hand came off, it was too late. 172/7Extras1 (lb 1)TOTAL172/6 (50.3 Overs, RR: 3.37)Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Ben Curran, 5.5 ov), 2-77 (Takudzwanashe Kaitano, 23.2 ov), 3-97 (Brian Bennett, 29.6 ov), 4-143 (Wessly Madhevere, 41.1 ov), 5-147 (Johnathan Campbell, 41.4 ov), 6-171 (Nyasha Mayavo, 49.6 ov), 7-172 (Newman Nyamhuri, 50.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MR Adair 13 4 38 0 2.92 0 0 BJ McCarthy 15 1 50 4 3.33 0 0 CA Young 9 1 27 0 3 0 0 MJ Humphreys 4 0 13 0 3.25 0 0 AR McBrine 10 2 43 3 4.3 0 0
Match Details
Series
Toss
Ireland , elected to bat first
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00
Match days
6,7,8,9,10 February 2025 (5-day match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Close of Play
- day 1 - Zimbabwe 1st innings 72/1 (T Kaitano 26*, NR Welch 33*, 21 ov)
Match Notes
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 100 balls (T Kaitano 13, NR Welch 38, Ex 0)
- NR Welch: 50 off 78 balls (7 x 4)
- Zimbabwe: 100 runs in 31.6 overs (192 balls), Extras 1
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 106/3 in 33.0 overs (NR Welch 54, W Madhevere 6)
- Zimbabwe: 150 runs in 43.5 overs (263 balls), Extras 1
- Lunch: Zimbabwe - 166/5 in 47.0 overs (NR Welch 76, NP Mayavo 14)
- Drinks: Ireland - 44/5 in 11.0 overs (LJ Tucker 12, AR McBrine 0)
- Ireland: 50 runs in 12.5 overs (78 balls), Extras 3
- 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 41 balls (LJ Tucker 33, AR McBrine 12, Ex 6)
- Ireland: 100 runs in 19.2 overs (119 balls), Extras 9
- Lunch: Ireland - 111/6 in 22.0 overs (AR McBrine 25, MR Adair 14)
- 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 61 balls (AR McBrine 24, MR Adair 25, Ex 3)
- Ireland: 150 runs in 30.1 overs (186 balls), Extras 12
- MR Adair: 50 off 48 balls (9 x 4)
- Drinks: Ireland - 175/6 in 33.1 overs (AR McBrine 47, MR Adair 53)
- 7th Wicket: 100 runs in 126 balls (AR McBrine 35, MR Adair 60, Ex 5)
- AR McBrine: 50 off 94 balls (7 x 4)
- Ireland: 200 runs in 40.5 overs (251 balls), Extras 14
- Tea: Ireland - 211/8 in 47.0 overs (AR McBrine 57, CA Young 0)
- Ireland: 250 runs in 54.5 overs (336 balls), Extras 16
- Innings Break: Ireland - 260/10 in 56.4 overs (AR McBrine 90)
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 26/1 in 5.5 overs (T Kaitano 13)
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 36/1 in 10.0 overs (T Kaitano 19, NR Welch 4)
- Zimbabwe: 50 runs in 13.2 overs (80 balls), Extras 1
- End Of Day: Zimbabwe - 72/1 in 21.0 overs (T Kaitano 26, NR Welch 33)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsMuzarabani's seven headlines Zimbabwe's dominant opening day
McBrine and Adair scored fifties each to help Ireland recover from 31 for 5 to 260 all out
Ireland look to reacquaint themselves with the rhythm of Test cricket
Having last played the format in July 2024, they will be up against Zimbabwe who welcome Williams back from injury but are without Raza
