On Day 1 of only Test between Zimbabwe and Ireland in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe were in the ascendancy thanks to an exceptional performance from their premier fast bowler, Blessing Muzarabani. The 27-year-old pacer delivered a spellbinding effort, finishing the day with remarkable figures of 7/58 and becoming the first pacer from the country to reach this milestone.
Muzarabani’s dominance with the ball shattered Ireland’s batting line-up, as he single-handedly removed six of the top seven Ireland batters. His display was nothing short of clinical, as he consistently found the right areas and exploited the conditions beautifully. This left Ireland struggling at 260 all out. With Richard Ngarava chipping in with two wickets and Trevor Gwandu contributing one, Zimbabwe’s bowlers proved to be too much for Ireland, keeping them to a modest total. This early breakthrough laid the foundation for Zimbabwe’s push for control in the match, leaving Ireland to contemplate what could have been a much larger score.
Ireland’s struggles with the bat: A fragile top order exposed against Blessing Muzarabani
Ireland’s batting unit was exposed early on by the relentless Zimbabwean bowlers, who demonstrated both skill and patience throughout the day. After opting to bat first, Ireland found themselves in serious trouble with the scoreboard reading a paltry 82/6. Peter Moor’s poor form continued as he fell early, caught by Curran off Muzarabani, while Andy Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, and Harry Tector were all dismissed in quick succession. Muzarabani’s mastery with the ball proved too much for the Irish top order, as he claimed crucial scalps and helped put the pressure on the rest of the batters.
Paul Stirling, a seasoned campaigner, also failed to make an impact and was sent packing after a brief stay at the crease. Lorcan Tucker tried to stem the tide, making 33 off 28 balls, but was also dismissed, adding to the growing list of Ireland wickets. Despite this, there was a glimmer of hope as Andy McBrine dug in with a gritty 90-run innings, and Mark Adair supported well with 78 runs. But Zimbabwe’s bowlers, spearheaded by Muzarabani’s stunning performance, never allowed Ireland to get any real momentum, taking wickets consistently to stifle any potential recovery.
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Zimbabwe’s response: A steady start on Day 1 of the Bulawayo Test
As Zimbabwe set about responding to Ireland’s total, they did so with composure and purpose, ensuring that their chase was methodical rather than rushed. Openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch played with confidence, making sure that Zimbabwe’s innings didn’t suffer more setbacks after the early loss of Ben Curran. Kaitano, in particular, looked solid, occupying the crease for a well-made 26 off 61 balls, while Welch matched him with 33 not out from 51 balls. Their 72-run partnership at stumps put Zimbabwe in a relatively strong position, trailing by 188 runs. The two had the opportunity to take control of the game, building on their steady foundation for the following day. While the run rate of 3.42 may not have been blistering, it was enough to keep Zimbabwe within striking distance of Ireland’s total.
The second-best bowling figures for Zimbabwe in a Test innings 👏
Blessing Muzarabani, take a bow 🙌#Cricket #ZIMvIRE #BlessingMuzarabani #zimbabwecricket pic.twitter.com/3TW3iVSqKA
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 6, 2025
