IRE VS ZIM - Only Test, Zimbabwe tour of Ireland, 2024

Four intriguing days of Test cricket and the home team has managed to pip the visitors, only just! Andy McBrine with the ball and then with the bat was too tough to crack for the Zimbabweans. Yesterday, it seemed all over for the Irish team. But the rains arrived and saved them. Then it was sunny today. And both Tucker and Andy McBrine batted splendidly. Zimbabwe threw everything at the duo but both batted brilliantly. It is a pity that it is a one Test series. But one would expect both teams to improve in this format. Until next time, goodbye and take care!

STAT: Ireland becomes the first ever team to win a Test match after losing first five wickets for less than 25 in a run-chase (fourth innings).

It’s their second win in nine matches in the format; they had defeated Afghanistan by six wickets at the Tolerance Oval (Abu Dhabi) earlier this year.

Andrew Balbirinie: We had our two best batters out there in the morning. The morning was good to bat. Heavy roller helped. They nullified any kind of threat. Then the home boy - Andy - got us over the line. It means a lot to us. The ebbs and flows are unique to this sport. Last night, was tough to watch. Was just an enjoyable Test. We enjoy playing here. We didn't have enough people celebrating us at Abu Dhabi. McBrine is such a likeable guy. His skill level is high. Well deserved Man of the Match for him.

Craig Ervine: These games move very fast. Very exciting to watch. There was something in it for the bowlers. The batters needed to keep their heads down. We had a decent platform. But the bottom order led us down in both innings. We had a few debutants. Probably you can put it down to that. They were excellent. They utilized the conditions very well. We would have loved a few overs yesterday. But that's how the game goes. Bright future for Zimbabwe with those three quicks. Hopefully, we can get one over them.

Andy McBrine, Player of the Match: Fantastic win. Tried to be positive. The partnership worked for us. Nice to get first home win. The bowling coach helped me. Wasn't an easy wicket to bowl on. It worked in our favour. Very delighted.

13:14 Local Time, 12:14 GMT, 17:44 IST: Adair and Andy McBrine have finished this off for Ireland. They carry one stump each. Zimbabwean players will have to be consoled here. It has been a cracking Test. But then Tucker and McBrine stood up when the pressure was on. They were 21 for 5 while chasing 158 but these two stuck at it and managed to do the job. The morning today saw Tucker and McBrine not putting a foot wrong. Zimbabwe will look back and rue the fact that they gave away so many extras. The 52 extras that they conceded didn't help them for sure. But this was a great advertisement for Test cricket. Both teams just gave it their everything. The final pair of Ireland also added valuable runs in the first innings and that really hampered the visitors.

Williams to Mark Adair, FOUR, it's all over. Ireland have done it. They were on the brink of losing this when they were reduced to 33 for 5 but they have fought back splendidly. Ireland win by 4 wickets. Their first win on home soil. That was lofted down the ground and the big shot ended the game

Ngarava to Andy McBrine, no run fuller length delivery, angled in, Andy wanted to clip it and missed it

Ngarava to Andy McBrine, no run, short ball, angled in, Andy McBrine looked to pull and was hit on the mid-riff. That skidded through

Ngarava to Mark Adair, 1 run, a four now will do it. The batter played it with soft hands and stabbed it wide of the man at gully

Ngarava to Andy McBrine, 1 run, shapes in, Andy McBrine tucks it wide of mid-on for a single. 5 needed now

Ngarava to Mark Adair, 1 run, on the pads, poor delivery, Mark Adair nudges it wide of the keeper for a single

Ngarava to Mark Adair, no run, gets the ball to angle away, Mark Adair dangled his bat at it and got beaten

Williams to Andy McBrine, no run, flatter one, Andy McBrine goes back and nudges the ball down onto the on-side. 7 needed now and should be over in the next couple of overs

Williams to Mark Adair, 1 run, was dropped short, chopped down to deep cover for a single

Williams to Mark Adair, no run, on the pads, nudged down to mid-wicket

Williams to Mark Adair, no run, flatter ball, punched to the man at cover

Williams to Andy McBrine, 1 run, gets that down to deep fine for a single. 8 needed now

Williams to Andy McBrine, 2 runs, straight down the ground for a brace. Chatara ran back to take it but failed to get there. Stopped it inside the ropes. 9 needed now

Sean Williams [4.0-0-13-0] is back into the attack