Test cricket the winner as Stormont shines on debut

Andy McBrine and Mark Adair embrace after securing victory for Ireland

There's life in the old dog yet.

Some would argue that Test cricket has been sacrificed to the white-ball game and its mass appeal belongs to days of yore.

But there's still room for the five-day format with its entrancing ebbs and flows on full show as Ireland's encounter against Zimbabwe came to a dramatic conclusion on Sunday.

It was the first Test match in Northern Ireland with the small but enchanting Stormont ground the venue in Belfast.

No stands here, just spectators lining a boundary enclosed on one side by trees in full summer majesty while an assortment of food vans and a bouncy castle occupied the other.

Inclement weather makes Tests in Ireland a risky proposition and while there were rain delays, the game was blessed with spells of sunshine on all four days.

And with a pristine playing surface the stage was set for two teams who rarely venture into cricket's oldest and most traditional arena.

This was just a second Test on home soil for Ireland since their debut in 2018 while it was a 17-month wait for the Chevrons.

Test matches can often create their own character and this one followed a similar pattern throughout.

The morning session belonged to the batters before the wickets tumbled as the bowlers hit back in the afternoon.

Flying the flag for Zimbabwe during the Test match in Belfast

It was a low scoring but close contest - Zimbabwe posted 210 and 197 while Ireland made 250 and 158-6 to clinch a four-wicket win.

Each day witnessed a shift in momentum, sometimes even in an over as two wickets fell in two balls or a last-wicket flurry tilted the balance.

The pitch played its part by offering something for both spin and pace while the batters clocked up five half-centuries.

There was the tactical game of chess between batter and bowler, the line and length and then a vicious bouncer.

Records were broken and landmark moments included Irish spinner Matthew Humphreys picking up his first Test wicket.

It all came down to Ireland needing 158 runs for victory to make it back-to-back Test wins after a maiden victory against Afghanistan earlier this year.

Step forward paceman Richard Ngarava, who came into the match with career-best Test figures of 2-104.

He steamed in from the Dundonald end and produced one of those bowling spells that are a sight to behold.

Each delivery came in like a rocket and allied with accuracy he ripped through Ireland's top order.

It was a moment to remember for Matthew Humphreys after claiming his first Test wicket

Ngarava bagged four wickets as the hosts collapsed to 6-3 and 21-5, much to the delight of exuberant Zimbabwe fans who brought colour and song to the party.

The hosts were still in big trouble on 33-5 when the luck of Irish saw a premature end of play for bad light on Saturday evening.

Another hour and the game could have been over but in Test matches, a different day can make a mockery of what went before.

In the opening hour Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine played with imperious ease as they plundered 69 runs against a now toothless Chevrons attack.

Their 96-run partnership brought Ireland to within 41 and Mark Adair joined McBrine to guide Ireland over the line.

The winning boundary sparked jubilant scenes and showed just how a victory in a rollercoaster Test over four days can mean that bit more.

This was new territory for Test cricket but Saturday was a sell-out and good crowds arrived each day to cheer on their team.

For many it was a first taste of this weird but wonderful game and hopefully not their last.