FAST bowler Blessing Muzarabani made history with a sensational seven-wicket haul to ignite Zimbabwe’s charge on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Ireland, but the visitors staged a remarkable recovery from 31/5 to post 260 before Zimbabwe replied with 72/1 at stumps on Thursday at Queens Sports Club.
Muzarabani’s fiery spell of 7/58, the best-ever figure by a Zimbabwean pace bowler in Tests, reduced Ireland to tatters early, ripping through the top order inside the first hour. However, Andy McBrine’s unbeaten 90 and Mark Adair’s counterattacking 78 propelled Ireland to a competitive total after a 127-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Led by debutant captain Johnathan Campbell following Craig Ervine’s pre-match withdrawal due to a family emergency, Zimbabwe closed the day trailing by 188 runs. Openers Nick Welch (33) and Takudzwanashe Kaitano (26) remained unbeaten after Ben Curran (12) fell to Barry McCarthy’s lone strike.
Electing to bat first, Ireland crumbled immediately as Muzarabani struck four times in his first six overs. Former Zimbabwe batter PJ Moor (4) fell to the final ball of the opening over, while captain Andy Balbirnie (9), Harry Tector (0), and Paul Stirling (10) followed in quick succession. At 31/5, Lorcan Tucker (33 off 28 balls) briefly counterpunched before dragging a Trevor Gwandu delivery onto his stumps.
McBrine and Adair then resurrected the innings with a record seventh-wicket stand for Ireland. Adair dropped twice, and smashed 13 fours in his 78 off 91 balls, while McBrine anchored the tail with a composed 90* off 132 deliveries. Muzarabani returned post-lunch to break the partnership, dismissing Adair and Barry McCarthy (0) in consecutive overs before wrapping up the innings with Craig Young’s wicket.
Campbell, son of former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell (1996–99), became the nation’s first debutant Test skipper outside its inaugural match. His charge, featuring three newcomers, including Welch and wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo, navigated Ireland’s late surge, with Muzarabani’s heroics overshadowing Richard Ngarava’s 2/65.
Zimbabwe’s openers survived 21 overs, with Welch exhibiting intent and Kaitano offering stubborn resistance. McCarthy’s dismissal of Curran, caught low by Tucker, provided Ireland’s sole breakthrough.
Key Stats
Muzarabani’s 7/58: Best by a Zimbabwe seamer in Tests, third-best overall behind Paul Strang’s 8/109 (2000) and Sikandar Raza’s 7/113 (2020).
Ireland’s 127-run stand: Highest seventh-wicket partnership in their Test history.
Campbell: First Zimbabwean to debut as Test captain since Heath Streak in 2000
