Zimbabwe v Ireland: Andy McBrine’s 90 helps rescue Ireland in Bulawayo Test

Andy McBrine’s unbeaten 90 and Mark Adair’s 78 helped Ireland recover from a dreadful start to post 260 on the opening day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo as the hosts reached 72-1 by the close.

With Ireland playing their first Test since the win over Zimbabwe in Belfast last July, they looked in severe danger of not even reaching three figures when Blessing Muzarabani ripped through the top order as the tourists slumped to 31-5.

Muzarabani dismissed Peter Moor, skipper Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector and Paul Stirling inside the opening nine overs with Richard Ngarava also bowling Curtis Campher.

However a 51-run partnership between McBrine and Lorcan Tucker (33) steadied the tourists’ innings before the latter played on to his owns stumps off a Trevor Gwandu delivery.

Big-hitting Adair then came to the increase and he hammered 13 fours in a 91-ball innings as he and McBrine produced a 127-run stand which moved the Irish past the 200-run mark.

Adair became Muzarabani’s fifth victim with wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo taking the catch but McBrine went on to produce his best Test score – four better than his unbeaten 86 against England at Lord’s in 2023 – before running out of partners.

The all-rounder’s typical tenacity served him well as he struck 12 fours in a 132-ball knock.

McBrine was one of the heroes of Ireland’s win over Zimbabwe seven months ago when the Donemana man’s unbeaten 55 on the final day helped secure a four-wicket victory.

Muzarabani helped mop up Ireland’s tail as he finished with career-best Test bowling figures of 7-58 which surpassed his 6-95 against Afghanistan last month.

In Zimbabwe’s reply, Barry McCarthy dismissed Ben Curran as the opener edged to wicketkeeper Tucker to put the hosts on 26-1 but Nick Welch (33) and Takudzwanashe Kaitano (26) pushed the score to 72-1 by the close.

Zimbabwe hold the advantage going into day two but Ireland will feel they remain in the contest after looking in huge trouble early on.