Twitter Reactions: Zimbabwe make dramatic comeback to put Ireland on backfoot after Day 3
Ireland need 125 runs to win while Zimbabwe need five wickets.
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On Day 3 of the one-off Test at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, Ireland bowled out Zimbabwe for 197 runs and were favourite to pick up the win on home turf. Dion Myers, who had a decent time in the white-ball series against India, made 57 runs while veteran Sean Williams scored 40 runs, which helped Zimbabwe remain in the contest. For Ireland, Andy McBrine picked up four wickets while Mark Adair and Craig Young picked up two wickets each.
Chasing 158 runs in the final innings, Ireland were confident of getting the job done but Zimbabwe's pacers were phenomenal in the final session of the day which set up a dramatic contest on Day 4. Ace pacer Richard Ngarava picked up four wickets while Blessing Muzarabani picked up one as Ireland were reduced to 21/5. They managed to finish the day on 33/5 and now need 125 runs to win the game.
Interestingly, the hosts refrained themselves from sending a night watchman, who could have stopped the flow of Zimbabwe pacers. As things stand, chasing 125 runs on Day 4 won’t be an easy task, especially with Zimbabwe having a lot of momentum. Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine have the responsibility to see things off as they don’t have any recognized batters or all-rounders after that.
Tucker failed to open his tally in the first innings but has been good in the second one. Brine, on the other hand, made 28 runs in the first innings before falling prey to Tendai Chatara. Notably, batting at number 11, youngster Matthew Humphreys made 27 runs in the first innings and he could prove to be important for Ireland on Day 4.
A good partnership from here can take Ireland home but Zimbabwe won’t make things easy for them. It will be a cloudy day on Day 4 and the conditions will help the bowlers, which makes Zimbabwe the favourites but on their home ground, Ireland would fancy to pull off a stunning win.
Here's how X reacted:
Like every single Ireland v Zimbabwe contest since the dawn of time, impossible to predict and gripping beyond belief and laced with such drama.
— Andrew Leonard (@CricketBadge) July 27, 2024
Always so closely matched and we could still be in for a grandstand finish tomorrow here... #IREvZIM
Good day in Belfast for @ZimCricketv #IrevZim … focus & finish the job tomorrow boys 👍
— Alan Butcher (@abutch58) July 27, 2024
Richard Ngarava shines as Zimbabwe roar back into the Test match 💥#IREvZIM 📝: https://t.co/gTvNgAlYQA | 📸: @ZimCricket pic.twitter.com/595sdV7sQE
— ICC (@ICC) July 27, 2024
Another two test matches across the card doing their very best to promote four day test cricket whatever the surface #ENGvWI #IREvZIM
— John Wright (@johnwright15) July 27, 2024
Ireland's hopes of winning consecutive Tests in jeopardy. Beat Afg earlier this year but currently 33-5 chasing 158 v Zim. Rain in Belfast might have come at a good time for hosts#IREvZIM#Cricket
— MediumPaceDobbler (@MediumPaceDobb1) July 27, 2024
Magnificent Spell. Career Best Test Bowling figures for @RichardRbidza 4/12.@ZimCricketv #IREvZIM
— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) July 27, 2024
Ngarva doing things for Zimbabwe.
— Sports Geeez (@Sportsgeeez) July 27, 2024
India pull Sri Lanka from a winning position.
England take the lead of 94 runs. #ENGvWI #INDvsSL #IREvZIM
Ngarava is on Fire 🐍🐍🔥. Amazing Test match #IrevZim #Zimvire
— ashish peswani (@ashishpeswani) July 27, 2024
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