IRE vs ZIM, One-off Test, Day 3: Zimbabwe set to win one-off Test in Belfast after Ireland fall to 33-5

Fast bowler Richard Ngarava picked up four wickets and blew Ireland’s top-order to put Zimbabwe in command after Saturday’s third day of the one-off cricket Test.

Zimbabwe started the day on 12 for no loss but Ireland took regular wickets, including four from Andy McBrine, who swept the tail as the visitors slumped to 197, leaving Ireland 158 to claim victory.

The home side were in control when they came out to bat in the final innings, but their top order completely fell apart as Ngarava claimed four wickets in eight overs. Ireland were 33-5 when rain saved them from a worse fate with 21 overs remaining in the day.

Ireland still needed 125 runs to win, but with just five wickets in hand at the Stormont Cricket Ground.

Before Zimbabwe erased their 40-run first-innings deficit, Joylord Gumbie edged Craig Young to Andy Balbirnie in the slips. Fellow opener Prince Masvaure got out three balls later, sending an inside edge behind.

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Craig Ervine was trapped leg before wicket by Mark Adair, but a partnership between Sean Williams and Dion Myers began to form and took Zimbabwe to lunch at 96-3.

The partnership of 68 was broken when Williams edged Young past wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, and Zimbabwe were on 174-6 when Brian Bennett and Clive Madande got off narrowly.

Myers top-scored with 57 but Adair had him lbw and Zimbabwe went to tea at 182-8.

McBrine cleared the last wickets after tea, leaving Ireland 158 to win.

But Ngarava started fiercely, taking two wickets in two balls, removing Peter Moor and Curtis Campher with six runs on the board.

In the next over, Blessing Muzarabani got Balbirnie.

Ngarava had their tails up and Harry Tector fell behind without scoring, and Paul Stirling dropped like a carbon copy at 10 and Ireland were 33 on the scoreboard when the rain arrived and ended the day prematurely.