Ireland – 260 and 298 all out in 93.3 overs (Andy Balbirnie 66, Lorcan Tucker 58, Curtis Camphor 39; Richard Ngarava 4/55, Trevor Gwandu 2/28, Wessly Madhevere 2/48)
Zimbabwe – 267 and 228 all out in 86.4 overs (Wessly Madhevere 84, Brian Bennett 45, Johnathan Campbell 33; Matthew Humphreys 6/57, Barry McCarthy 2/22, Mark Adair 1/47)
Ireland won by 63 runs
Despite a heroic effort from Wessly Madhevere, who scored 84, Zimbabwe fell to Ireland by 63 runs in the one-off Test match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday morning.
The hosts resumed play on 183 for seven, needing another 109 runs for victory, with Madhevere unbeaten on 61 and Newman Nyamhuri on five.
Madhevere was the key figure, fully aware of the immense responsibility on his shoulders.
He fought hard to keep the scoreboard ticking.
After reaching eight, Nyamhuri attempted to sweep a straight delivery from Matthew Humphreys and was trapped lbw, leaving Zimbabwe at 189 for eight.
Humphreys’ breakthrough also gave him his fifth wicket of the innings.
Richard Ngarava joined Madhevere and was dropped twice in successive deliveries off sharp chances as he looked to attack too early.
In the next over, Madhevere was also dropped off a difficult slip chance.
The batters then settled into a more cautious approach, waiting for loose deliveries to capitalise on.
Ireland, however, took the second new ball but continued relying on their spinners, Humphreys and Andy McBrine, to finish the job.
At 218, Zimbabwe’s hopes were effectively dashed when a quicker delivery from Humphreys beat Madhevere’s defensive shot and bowled him, leaving the hosts nine down.
Madhevere had played a fighting innings of 84 off 195 balls, striking eight fours.
With 74 runs still needed, a comeback was improbable.
Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani managed only 10 more before Ngarava attempted a big hit off McBrine and was bowled for 14, with Muzarabani contributing just one.
Zimbabwe were all out for 228, handing Ireland a 63-run victory – marking their third consecutive Test win.
Humphreys finished with remarkable figures of six for 57, the best bowling performance by an Irish bowler in Test cricket.
Despite the defeat, Zimbabwe – missing three of their top batters – showed promise, particularly through the fighting spirit of young players like Madhevere.