Ireland 260 (McBrine 90*, Adair 78, Muzarabani 7-58, Ngarava 2-65) trail Zimbabwe 72 for 1 (Welch 33*, Kaitano 26*, McCarthy 1-25) by 188 runs
What started out as a potentially one-sided day in Bulawayo was anything but. Ireland zig-zagged through multiple ups and downs, however, Zimbabwe ended up dominating the day.
In reply, Zimbabwe lost Ben Curran early but Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch’s healthy starts saw off 21 overs to stumps, with the hosts trailing by 188 runs.
The day began under sunny skies but the first over showed that the vagaries of a pitch that batters couldn’t trust. Peter Moor fell for the balls outside off, which brought him a boundary fourth ball but the lack of bounce and pace had him drag a pull onto his stumps.
Curtis Campher got a jaffa that seamed away and beat his bat while trying to defend in the third over but then fell trying to counterattack in the fourth. Andy Balbirnie, who was in control against the full balls, was out trying to flick a shortish ball that stopped in the pitch.
Muzarabani saved his best ball for Harry Tector, which seamed away to take a leading edge off the flick, to have him caught at slip. He was then assisted by the pitch, which offered extra pace and bounce, to have Paul Stirling also caught at slip.
More to follow
