daniel chigunwe
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S 63-run defeat at the hands of Ireland in a one-off Test match against Ireland at Queens Sports Club further highlighted how poor the Chevrons have been in international cricket over the recent years, failing to make maximum use of home conditions.
With Ireland batting first, Zimbabwe found themselves in a commanding position in the first innings, having the visitors reeling on 31/5 at one stage. They, however, threw away the game from a winning position, eventually continuing their losing streak in red-ball cricket on home soil.
Monday’s defeat created more unwanted records for the Chevrons.
The loss meant that Zimbabwe have not won a Test at home since their 24-run victory over Pakistan in 2013, stretching their win-less streak at home to 11 years in the longest version of the game.
The Chevrons have also recorded another bad record, as they now have the longest win-less streak at a venue for any team in Test cricket.
Their last win at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo in red-ball cricket was against Bangladesh in 2001.
Since then, they have played 20 Tests at the venue without tasting victory.
The next on this list is New Zealand with 17 matches without a win at Eden Park in Auckland from 1959 to 1981.
Despite the unwanted records, a couple of individual players managed to make good individual records. Nick Welch, who was making his debut following a good run of form in the Logan Cup, announced himself in style with a brilliantly batted 90 runs in the Chevrons’ first innings, where they managed to secure a seven-run lead going into the second innings.
Welch’s effort is the third-highest score for a Zimbabwe batter on debut, only behind the century makers, Dave Houghton (121 vs. India in 1992) and Hamilton Masakadza (119 vs. West Indies in 2001). Garry Ballance scored an unbeaten 137 runs against the West Indies in 2023. Ballance was making his debut for Zimbabwe, albeit he had already played 24 matches for England before retracing his roots to the country of his birth.
In the second innings, chasing a mammoth target of 292 runs to win, Wessly Madhevere, who was a last-minute addition to the team following the withdrawal of Craig Ervine (family emergency) and Sean Williams (injury concerns), played a gallant knock where he fell for a fighting 84 runs off 195 balls.
That was Madhevere’s maiden Test half-century, and he now holds the record for the highest score by a Zimbabwean batting number six in a Test chase, surpassing Ervine’s previous record of 53, which he made against Afghanistan at the same venue last month.
Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first; they were bowled out for 260 in 56.4 overs, courtesy of a stunning seven-wicket haul from Blessing Muzarabani. Muzarabani’s 7/58 figures are the best by a Zimbabwean seamer in Tests and the second best overall for the Chevrons after Paul Strang’s 8/109 against Sri Lanka.
The Chevrons managed to take a slender seven-run lead in response, crumbling to 267 all out. Welch stood out with the bat for Zimbabwe, scoring 90 runs on debut, while Muzarabani chipped in with a valuable 47.
In their second innings, Ireland responded with 298 all out, setting Zimbabwe a target of 292 runs to win. The Chevrons, however, faltered once again, being bowled out for 228 runs despite a gallant effort from Madhevere.
Zimbabwe’s inability to play left-arm spin was evident as Ireland’s Matthew Humphreys ripped apart the Chevrons with career-best figures of 6/57 in the second innings.
His figures are now also the best bowling figures for Ireland. He surpassed his spin-bowling partner, Andy McBrine, who had picked up 6/118 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2023.
Online Reporter