Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
BLESSING Muzarabani followed up his seven wickets haul with a fine batting display that helped Zimbabwe overturn Ireland’s first innings score and secure a lead going into the second innings on day two of the Test match at Queens Sports Club yesterday.
Having finished with career best figures of 7/58 with the ball, helping the Chevrons bowl out Ireland for 260 runs, Muzarabani chipped in with a brilliantly batted 47 runs that dragged Zimbabwe to 267 all out, to secure a slender seven-run lead.
At stumps, Ireland were on 83/1, leading by 76 runs.
The 47 runs, which was a part of a 67-run 10th wicket partnership with Trevor Gwandu, is now the lanky fast bowler’s highest Test score, surpassing his previous best of 30 not out.
His partnership with Gwandu was also one for the history books as they edged closer to 97-run record partnership between Andy Flower and Henry Olonga against India in 2000. Most recently, Chris Mpofu and Kyle Jarvis had a 53-run stand against Sri Lanka at Queens Sports Club in 2017.
As Muzarabani fell agonisingly short of his maiden Test half-century, a debut ton for Nick Welch was also not to be.
The 27-year-old fell 10 runs short of what would have been a special century with his father cheering on in the terraces. He would have been the fourth player to score a century for Zimbabwe on debut after Dave Houghton, Hamilton Masakadza and Garry Ballance.
Speaking after the day’s play, Welch said despite falling short of his maiden Test ton, he is proud of the way he played.
He described the game so far as the best two days of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling. It has been the best two days of my cricket career. I have been absorbing it, I have been absorbing it and enjoying every second of it. If you offered me 90 at the beginning of the match I would have taken it but very upset to not get over the line but I am chuffed with the performance. I was happy to contribute to the team’s performance,” said Welch.
Gwandu, who remained unbeaten on 18 runs from 79 balls also found himself among Zimbabwe’s history books. He faced the second most deliveries in their first innings, only behind Welch (173 balls). He now also has the third-longest innings by a Zimbabwean number 11 batter in Test history.
Ray Price holds the record for the longest innings (110 balls against Australia in 2003), followed by Henry Olonga (90 balls against India in 2000).
Zimbabwe resumed day two on 72/1 trailing by 189 runs, however, wickets fell at regular intervals.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano was the first to fall in the morning session, trapped in front by Barry McCarthy on 26 runs, his overnight score.
Brian Bennett was the next to fall without much contribution. The youngster was bowled by McCarthy for seven runs, leaving Zimbabwe on 97/3, trailing by 163 runs.
Prior to that wicket, Welch had brought up his maiden Test 50 off 78 ball, carrying his domestic form into international cricket.
The fourth wicket would fall in the 42nd over with Andy McBrine getting Wessly Madhevere for 26 runs.
Five balls later, the skipper Johnathan Campbell had to walk back to the pavilion after he was caught for four runs off the bowling of McBrine, leaving Zimbabwe on 147/5 in 41.5 overs, trailing by 113 runs.
At lunch, the Chevrons were on 166/5, trailing by 94 runs having lost four wickets for 94 runs. Welch was on 76 at the interval.
Another wicket fell soon after lunch with Nyasha Mayavo getting trapped in front for 18 runs and four balls later, Newman Nyamhuri was caught for a golden duck.
At that stage, the Chevrons were on 172/7, trailing by 88 runs.
Welch and Richard Ngarava had a 20-run partnership for the eighth wicket before the latter was caught on 15 runs from 41 balls.
The next wicket to fall was that of Welch as he attempted to accelerate the scoring seeing he was running out of partners. He was dismissed by a stunning Harry Tector catch in the deep, departing for 90 runs off 173 balls.
At the time, Zimbabwe were now on 200/9, trailing by 60 runs.
It was Muzarabani and Gwandu who saved the day for the Chevrons with the bag, dragging them to 267 all out in 86.1 overs.
Muzarabani was bowled by Humphreys, his first and only wicket of the innings.
McCarthy finished with impressive figures of 4/75 for Ireland while McBrine took 3/59. Mark Adair took two scalps.
It was Ngarava who had the breakthrough for Zimbabwe, getting PJ Moor caught behind for 30 runs off 33 deliveries.
At stumps, Ireland had Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher in the middle. Balbirnie was on 32 runs off 51 balls while Campher was on 14 runs off 43 deliveries.
Play resumes at 10am today for day three.
