Tucker and McBrine steer Irish to win over Zimbabwe
Andy McBrine plays a shot against Zimabwe at Stormont on Sunday
- Published
Day Four of Test match, Stormont
Zimbabwe 210 & 197: Myers 57, Williams 40; McBrine 4-38
Ireland 250 & 158-6: Tucker 56, McBrine 55*; Ngarava 4-53
Ireland won by four wickets
A record 84-run stand between Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine helped Ireland to a four-wicket Test victory over Zimbabwe at Stormont.
The hosts were struggling on 33-5 at the start of play in a chase of 158, but Tucker (56) and McBrine (55 not out) batted superbly to notch up the country's highest sixth-wicket partnership in Tests.
Zimbabwe looked favourites to secure a first Test win since 2021 but their bowling lacked the sparkle which had resulted in an Irish top-order collapse on Saturday.
Having lost their opening seven Tests, the hosts have now recorded back-to-back wins after a maiden success against Afghanistan earlier this year.
It was the first Test match to be played in Northern Ireland and it was an enthralling encounter in Belfast.
The game ebbed and flowed over the first three days with a familiar pattern of good batting conditions in the morning followed by the bowlers hitting back in the afternoon.
Zimbabwe's bowling attack created few opportunities on Sunday
It was same again on Sunday as Ireland started in a precarious position but Tucker and McBrine took the attack to the tourists.
They plundered 67 runs in a blistering opening hour and shifted the momentum firmly in favour of Ireland.
Tucker registered his second Test half-century and hit 10 boundaries before playing on to Blessing Muzarabani to leave his team on 117-6.
There was still work to do as Mark Adair joined McBrine in the middle but the pair calmly edged towards the finishing line.
Adair struck the winning runs and it was met by celebrations from the Irish team and spectators.
McBrine also took 4-38 in Zimbabwe's second innings and he was deservedly named player-of-the-match.
