Zimbabwean bowlers came out breathing fire against the Irish batters in the final session of day 3. Ngarava picked up four wickets, giving Zimbabwe a lifeline in this test series.
Zimbabwe was bowled out for 197 in 71 overs in their second innings. Most of the batsmen struggled, but a quick 40 from Sean Williams and a half-century from Dion Myers helped the Chevrons put up a decent score to defend.
With Zimbabwe’s batting innings ending on day 3, the game seemed Ireland’s for the taking with two days remaining. Ireland needed 158 runs to win at the start of their batting innings.
Zimbabwe seemed lost and buried, but Richard Ngarava had other plans. The Zimbabwean fast bowler took two early wickets, reducing Ireland to 6 runs for 2. The tall man Muzarabani added another wicket, leaving Ireland at 6 runs for 3. PJ Moor, the star of Ireland’s first innings, was also dismissed in this Ngarava onslaught.
Ngarava further took the wickets of Paul Stirling and Harry Tector before rain and bad lighting intervened. Ireland now needs 125 runs to win, while Zimbabwe needs five more wickets to secure victory.
