ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe on cusp of Test match win against Ireland after Richard Ngarava heroics with ball

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ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe are on the cusp of a Test match win against Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. At the end of Day 3 of the only Test, Ireland were five down for 33 while chasing a modest 158-run target.

Zimbabwe left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava wreaked havock and his bowling figures read 4/12 in four overs when rain stopped play and stumps were called on Saturday, July 27. The other wicket was picked by right-hand pacer Blessing Muzarabani.

Image Courtesy: Zimbabwe Cricket

Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe finished their innings at 197 after a handy contribution from veteran batter Sean Williams. The 37-year-old scored 40 off 65 and partnered for 68 runs with Dion Myers, who scored 57 off 142 balls while batting at number three.

While Mark Adair and Craig Young picked two wickets each, off-spinner Andy McBrine finished with figures of 4/38 in 23 overs for Ireland.

Ireland had taken a 40-run first innings lead against Zimbabwe after opting to bowl first in the match. In reply to Zimbabwe's 210, they scored 250 runs in the first innings.

If Zimbabwe manage to pick the last five wickets on Sunday (July 28), it will be their first Test win since 2021, and only the third in the last 10 years. They won their second-last Test match in 2018, and third-last back in September 2013.

In another good news for Zimbabwe on Saturday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Richard Gould confirmed to Sky Sports that the board will be paying touring fees when Zimbabwe arrive for a one-off test next year. Gould added that the ECB and other financially strong boards, such as the Indian and Australian boards, had a huge responsibility to ensure the competitiveness of Test cricket.