Ngarava’s four-wicket haul puts Zimbabwe on top in Ireland Test

Richard Ngarava claimed four top-class wickets in Ireland as Zimbabwe fought back in dramatic fashion to take command of a one-off Test in Belfast on Saturday.

Zimbabwe started the third day at 12-0 but were bowled out for 197 in the second innings, with Irish off-spinner Andy McBrine taking 4-38.

That left Ireland with a victory target of 158 but their top batsmen proved powerless to resist the 26-year-old left-hander Ngarava, who took excellent figures of 4-12 from four overs, with the hosts 33-5 at the close and still needing 125 more runs to win.

Zimbabwe almost erased a 40-run first-innings deficit when Joylord Gumbie was caught off Craig Young’s catch.

Three balls later, Barry McCarthy had Prince Masvaure, the other Zimbabwe opener, caught before Craig Ervine was lbw to Mark Adair.

But a score of 68 between Sean Williams and Dion Myers, who was the top scorer of the innings with 57, helped turn the game around before Williams was out for 40.

McBrine cleared the tail to leave Ireland with a seemingly modest target and more than two days to make the runs.

However, Ngarava had other ideas as he picked up two wickets in two balls to dismiss Peter Moor and Curtis Campher.

New teammate Blessing Muzarabani stepped in and removed Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie.

Ngarava continued the collapse, with Harry Tector (nil) and Paul Stirling (10) both caught by goalkeeper Clive Madande before rain halted the day’s play.

Brief scores, closed on the third day:

Zimbabwe 210 (P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A McBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42) and 197 (D Myers 57, S Williams 40; A McBrine 4-38) v Ireland 250 (P Moor 79; T Chivanga 3-39, B Muzarabani 3-53) and 33-5 (R Ngarava 4-12)

Match Position: Ireland need 125 more runs to reach the winning target of 158, with five wickets to be taken.