Summary

  • Rains stops play with Ireland on 206-9 in reply to 210

  • PJ Moor and Andrew Balbirne put on Ireland's biggest Test opening partnership of 71

  • Tanaka Chivanga dismisses Balbirnie (19), Curtis Campher (8) and Harry Tector (4)

  • Moor (79), Lorcan Tucker (0) and Craig Young (3) fall to Blessing Muzarabani

  • Sean Williams claims wickets of Paul Stirling (22) and Mark Adair (0)

  • Barry McCarthy (1) out to Tendai Chatara

  • This is the first Test to be played in Northern Ireland

Live Reporting

Alvin McCaig and Lauren McCann

  1. Ire 135-3

    'Extras' are Ireland's second highest scorer today behind PJ Moor, who has not scored a run since lunch

    A quiet over against Chivanga which is exactly what Ireland needed after a bit of a shaky restart.

  2. Ire 130-3

    Yet more plays and misses from Paul Stirling as the 6 foot 10 Blessing Muzarabani is thundering down the pitch at him. He'll not like to see the number 28 shirt of Tanaka Chivanga with ball in hand.

    Just a wide to add to the total after 29 overs.

  3. Watch: Chivanga picks up third wicket

    Ire 129-3

    Harry Tector is the third Irish batter to fall to Tanaka Chivanga

  4. Ire 129-3

    Alvin McCaig
    BBC Sport NI at Stormont

    Paul Stirling is not looking comfortable at all in the middle as he aims to cash in on his reprieve.

    He's played and missed several times and his luck could soon run out.

  5. Ire 129-3

    All Zimbabwean bowlers have been slightly erratic at times and that includes Chivanga as he gifts Ireland five runs with wides in the over.

    Paul Stirling still looking a little shaky as the wind picks up here at Stormont.

  6. Ire 124-3

    Paul Stirling eventually gets off the mark after being bombarded by Chivanga and then Muzarabani. It is important for Ireland to ride out this spell of Zimbabwean pressure. PJ Moor is on strike looking to add to his 62 against Chivanga.

  7. Ire 121-3

    What a chaotic over to begin the second session today. After catching Harry Tector LBW, Chivanga thought he had his second wicket of the over and fourth of the day just two balls later when Paul Stirling popped out to the slips.

    However, Chivanga had just overstepped and it was given as a no-ball. Stirling gets away with one early. Can he take advantage?

    Chivanga finished the over with a wild four wide but has been damaging to the hosts yet again.

  8. wicket

    WICKET

    Tector lbw Chivanga 4 (Ire 115-2)

    Goodness me, what a start after the extended lunch for Zimbabwe! You guessed it, it's that man Chivanga who catches Harry Tector plum LBW on just the second ball.

    Local boy Paul Stirling is now in to bat

  9. Play to resume at 14:40

    Ire 115-2

    Alvin McCaig
    BBC Sport NI at Stormont

    This time I bring you good news from Stormont and we're going to see the teams back in action in 10 minutes.

    There remains the threat of rain but the sun has split through the clouds and it's all good at the minute.

    We'll now have tea at 16:40.

  10. Pitch inspection

    Ire 115-2

    There will be a pitch inspection at 14:20 and it's definitely looking a lot brighter at Stormont.

    The covers have come off although there's some dark clouds moving in which could scupper a resumption.

  11. Spectators flock to Stormont

    Ire 115-2

    Alvin McCaig
    BBC Sport NI at Stormont

    The boundary ropes have been ringed by an enthiusiastic crowd over the last two days at Stormont.

    The historic opening day saw 1400 spectators at the east Belfast venue and there's over 1000 here today.

    They've enjoyed some good cricket and we just need the weather to play ball and we'll see some more.

    Both home and away fans have turned up in their numbers in BelfastPress Eye

    Both home and away fans have turned up in their numbers in Belfast

  12. Bell a tribute to Irish great Torrens

    Ire 115-2

    In cricket, a bell is traditionally rung five minutes before play to alert the teams to be ready for the field.

    And a very special bell was heard yesterday at Stormont to remember an Irish cricket great.

    The Roy Torrens' Bell pays homage to the hugely popular figure who represented his country 30 times before a high-profile stint as national team manager.

    The bell, with special engraving, was officially unveiled on Thursday and rung by Roy's wife, Joan, for the first time in a special ceremony at the east Belfast ground ahead of the Test.

    Read more here

  13. Ire 115-2

    The rain continues to fall at Stormont so we will have a delay and wait for a resumption of play after lunch.

  14. It's raining

    Ire 115-2

    Alvin McCaig
    BBC Sport NI at Stormont

    I don't wish to be the bearer of bad news but rain has arrived in east Belfast and it's not looking good for a 13:40 BST restart.

    The covers are on and spectators have hurried away to seek shelter from the downpour.

    We'll keep you updated.

  15. Ire 115-2

    Alvin McCaig
    BBC Sport NI at Stormont

    PJ Moor is the star for Ireland as he walks off unbeaten on 62 at lunch.

    It's the highest score by an Irish opener in a Test, surpassing Andrew Balbirnie's previous best of 58.

    And that's after Moor and Balbirnie set a new record for Ireland's biggest partnership in Test cricket with a first-wicket stand of 71.

    Ireland have already halved the deficit on Zimbabwe and they have eight wickets in hand so they'll be pleased with the morning session.

    Right, it's time for some grub and there's a burger van doing good business so I think I'll join the fast-growing queue.

  16. Ire 115-2 - LUNCH

    We hit lunch at Stormont with Ireland having a successful morning with a record opening partnership between Andrew Balbirnie and PJ Moor who has moved on to 62 not out.

    Tanaka Chivanga has got at Ireland and is on 2-18 having taken the wickets of Balbirnie and Curtis Campher.

    Play resumes at 1:42pm.

  17. Watch: Williams holds on to dismiss Campher

    Ire 113-2

    Curtis Campher watches Sean Williams take the catch to end his stay at the crease

  18. Ire 113-2

    Chivanga now gives up four cheap runs down leg side with a bye. It looks as though Sean Williams hurt himself diving to try to stop it but he seems ok.

    Harry Tector then gets off the mark with a boundary on his fifteenth ball off the hitherto-miserly Chivanga

  19. Ire 104-2

    Ireland hit triple figures and Moor is on to 61 but that man Chivanga is back!

  20. Ire 99-2

    Another brilliant over from Chivanga who takes Curtis Campher's wicket with the first ball of the over and then keeps Ireland scoreless the rest of the way.

    Harry Tector will be looking to get on the board before lunch as Zimbabwe grow in confidence after a frustrating early morning.

    The less Ireland see of Chivanga the better at the moment!