Ireland in the ascendancy on Day Two
McBrine, McCarthy and Moor put Ireland into a good position heading into Day Three in Bulawayo
End of Day Two
Ireland: 260 & 83-1 Zimbabwe: 267
Ireland lead by 76
A bowling fightback led by Barry McCarthy and Andy McBrine, combined with a much-improved batting display, leaves Ireland marginally in the ascendancy at the end of day two in Bulawayo.
McCarthy took two brilliant wickets with the moving ball in the morning session, while McBrine turned the game on its head with a pair of scalps in one over.
Once a frustrating final-wicket stand of 67 was ended, PJ Moor came out with aggression with the bat, quickly driving and pulling his way to 30 before nicking behind. His was the only dismissal of the evening as Ireland head into day three looking to build a match-winning lead with nine wickets in hand.
Here are the day’s talking points.
Brilliant Barry
Figures-wise, Barry McCarthy was Ireland’s standout bowler. After nicking off Ben Curran last night, he once again was the only Irish bowler to find effective assistance off the pitch this morning. Twice he nipped the ball back in to challenge the stumps, dismissing Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Brian Bennett LBW and bowled respectively. He also nicked off Newman Nyamhuri, getting the ball to leave him just enough.
The majority of McCarthy’s damage was done in the first session when Ireland took four wickets. Behind the game overnight, they reduced Zimbabwe from 72-1 to 147-5 to turn the game on its head by lunch.
McCarthy couldn’t reach a maiden Test five-wicket haul. Club cricketers would accuse the Pembroke man of jug-avoidance, falling just short of the five wicket milestone which traditionally necessitates the purchase of a jug of beer for teammates’ consumption. Still, figures of 4-75 are a new career best in Test cricket.
His father, Steve, was caught on the broadcast filming the action from the sideline, hoping to catch the moment his son reached a Test match five-for. There’s always the second innings.
Reliable McBrine
As a containing, pressure-building off-spinner, as opposed to an out and out attacking threat, McBrine wouldn’t be expected to take wickets in bunches. However, that’s exactly what he did before lunch, taking two in an over as part of Ireland’s four-wicket session.
Both dismissals were soft. Wessly Madhevere needlessly steered a delivery to short leg, PJ Moor initially parrying the chance before ‘keeper Lorcan Tucker pounced to finish the job. Johnathan Campbell then came in, hitting his second ball to the fence with a gorgeous back foot punch. He tried to repeat the dose the next ball, again needlessly steering the ball to Harry Tector on the off side.
It’s easy to see a finger-spinner take soft scalps and blame the batters. Time and again, though, McBrine is the one who finds himself the beneficiary of soft dismissals. He has turned it into a fine art.
Finishing with figures of 3-59, McBrine is once again proving how valuable he is to this red ball team.
10th wicket malaise
Unlike Ireland, Zimbabwe’s lower order is not renowned for their batting prowess. Which is why the final wicket stand which took the hosts from 60 runs behind to seven runs ahead will be infuriating for Ireland.
Blessing Muzarabani (47) and number 11 Trevor Gwandu (18 not out) found it too easy to put on 67 runs for the final wicket. Ireland’s spinners bowled a bit too flat, not enticing them to play the tailender slogs which would offer catches in the deep. The field placings can also be questioned, given long-on and long-off were frequently back for a pair of batters happy to take singles, gradually chipping into the lead before eventually giving Zimbabwe a marginal one.
Top order survives
After finding themselves 31-5 at one point yesterday, the Irish top order will be relieved to reach 83-1 at the close of play.
PJ Moor came out playing beautifully, the first ball of the innings punched effortlessly to the cover boundary. Muzarabani lacked the zip off the surface he had on day one, perhaps drained by his batting innings. Moor cashed in, pulling him and Richard Ngarava for further boundaries.
The shot Moor played to be dismissed on 30, hanging his bat out to Ngarava outside off, looked poor. He clearly was anticipating the ball to move back into him from the left-armer, caught out by the one which went across. A simple chance off the edge was snared behind. Given how well he played, he will be brutally disappointed not to have batted Ireland into a winning position.
Still, Balbirnie and number three Curtis Campher survived thereafter. Zimbabwe improved after the dismissal, Gwandu looking much better than he did in the first innings. A handful of edges flew through the slip cordon, but Ireland will take their luck, along with a much-improved top order display.
With a lead of 76 and nine wickets in hand, not to mention the batting form of the lower order and Zimbabwe’s earlier frailty with the bat, Ireland can consider themselves favourites from here.