Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
A tall order lies ahead for the Chevrons who need to rewrite history books if they are to win their one-off Test match against Ireland at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe were set a mammoth target of 292 runs to win the match and at the end of play on day three, had lost both their openers.
History favours the visitors as the Chevrons’ most successful run chase in Test cricket is 162 when they beat Pakistan by seven wickets in Peshawar in 1998/99.
With two days of cricket left, Zimbabwe need 254 runs to win with seven wickets in hand.
Ireland are now in firm control of the match.
Day three of the one-off Test resumed with Ireland on 83/1 leading by 76 runs. Skipper, Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher were in the middle on 37 and 25 runs respectively.
Trevor Gwandu was the first to strike for Zimbabwe before the lunch break. He found Campher’s outside edge, getting him caught behind for 39 runs off 99 deliveries.
The Irish skipper, Balbirnie would go on to bring up his fifth Test half century in the 42nd over and at the time, Ireland were on 134/2, leading by 127runs.
Balbirnie’s half century put Ireland at an advantage with the visitors scoring 66 runs in the first session for the loss of one wicket.
In the 53rd over, the Zimbabwean skipper, Johnathan Campbell brought himself into the attack and managed to strike in his second delivery. His first Test wicket was that of Harry Tector whom he trapped in front for 17 runs, leaving the visitors on 153/3 with a lead of 146 runs.
A big breakthrough for Zimbabwe followed in the 58th over with Wessly Madhevere getting Balbirnie for 66 runs off 160 deliveries.
In the 63rd over, Blessing Muzarabani got his first wicket of the innings, having Paul Stirling caught behind for 21 runs off 29 balls. At that point, Ireland were now on 200/5, leading by 193 runs.
Madhevere would go on to pick up his second wicket of the innings in the 75th over, getting Andy McBrine caught for 16 runs before Ngarava had Mark Adair caught for 15 runs, leaving Ireland on 261/7 with a lead of 254 runs.
At tea, the visitors were on the same scoreline.
Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (left) and Rahmat Shah celebrate a wicket against Chevrons at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo
Ngarava would go on to pick up his third wicket after tea, bowling out Barry McCarthy for 11 runs off 31 balls.
In the 91st over, Gwandu struck again for Zimbabwe. He bowled Craig Young for two runs before Ngarava wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Lorcan Tucker who was caught for 58 runs.
Ireland were bowled out for 298 runs in 93.3 over, setting Zimbabwe a target of 292 runs to win.
Zimbabwe’s chase got off to a poor start losing the wicket of Ben Curran who was caught behind for four runs, bringing in Nick Welch into the middle.
It would get worse for the Chevrons as they lost their second wicket with Takudzwanashe Kaitano being bowled for 14 runs in the seventh over. At that stage, Zimbabwe were on 22/2.
In the 12th over, Welch was trapped in front for five runs, leaving the Chevrons on 32/3, needing 260 runs to win.
At stumps, Zimbabwe were on 38/3 with Brian Bennett and a night watchman, Trevor Gwandu in the middle.
Play resumes at 10am today. — @brandon_malvin.
Online Reporter