IRE VS ZIM TESTS

Right then, Andy Balbirnie now walks up to the podium and is handed the trophy for winning the One-off Test match and the Irish players on him in celebration. Also, that is it from this historic Test match and it is Ireland who have reigned victorious at home against a determined Zimbabwe side. We hope you enjoyed are coverage but ticketing action doesn't stop here as the Final of the Women's Asia Cup between hosts Sri Lanka and India is nearing a fascinating conclusion. You can switch tabs and read our coverage of that game. Until next time then, take care and goodbye!

The skipper of Ireland, Andy Balbirnie is up for a chat. Balbirnie says that they had a chat last night with their two best batters about how to execute the plan. He continues that the morning pitch today was really flat, and very good to bat on. He further says that the local boy Andy McBrine helped them to win this match. He also says that the win would not help them in any qualification but he is really feeling proud of how his boys have reacted to win the match. He ends up saying they have worked hard for this and got the result at the end of the day.

Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe says that certainly these games that move pretty fast are exciting to watch and the conditions were such that there was always something in it for the bowlers as well as the batters. Adds that they made the same mistake in both innings with the bat as the lower order let them down and there were a couple of debutants who will learn from this experience. Mentions that the pacers were excellent and utilized the conditions well and would have liked to bowl a few more overs on Day 3 but it is what it is and goes on to applaud Tanaka Chivanga for coming back out after the concussion. On Victor Nyauchi, he says that Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani had bowled well and wanted to give those to another burst but unfortunately, it didn't work out. On their brewing rivalry with Ireland, he says every time they play, it is a right affair and is looking forward to more such encounters in the future.

Andy McBrine is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning display with both bat and ball. McBrine starts by saying that he feels fantastic to win the match. He continues that he and Lorcan Tucker had a good partnership which made the situation positive. He continues that on the previous day, they were thankful that the rain came on. He further adds that he is working on his bowling and is happy to gather wickets and says that he is more than satisfied with his pacers. Ends by saying that he is happy that his family is here to witness this exceptional match.

The Presentation ceremony...

Day 4 was the deciding day and overhead conditions changed completely which allowed Ireland back in the game but credit must go to the pair of Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine who came out with a positive intent and put the bad balls away. Both of them went on to score half centuries but it was the willy southpaw, McBrine who stayed on till the end and along with Mark Adair got his side over the line. McBrine had a game to remember as he picked up 7 wickets across the two innings and scored a match-winning fifty in the fourth innings. Adair, who was the hero of Ireland's first Test victory a few months ago, fitted hit the winning runs even after suffering a dislocated finger on Day 3.

Day 3 is known as the moving day in Test cricket and boy, we saw the game move at a rapid pace. Zimbabwe faltered early in their second innings with both openers being dismissed for a low score. Dion Myers and Sean Williams led the fight back for the visitors as the hosts kept on spilling catch after catch. Once the partnership was broken, the Irish bowlers broke through the lower order and bundled out Zimbabwe for 197 runs. Needing 158 for the win, Ireland walked out to bat under gloomy conditions and Richard Ngarava bowled a stellar spell and the visitors ended the day in pole position as Ireland were left reeling at 33/5.

Day 2 was a similar story as Ireland batted decently in the first session but lost their way after Lunch and it required a substantial last-wicket stand between Andy McBrine and Matthew Humphreys to bail them out. Zimbabwe were brilliant in terms of picking up wickets but as many as 59 extras meant that they conceded a first-innings lead of 40 runs and had it all to do with the bat.

The game can be termed as a slow-boiler to an extent as in the first session on Day 1, not much happened. However, post-Lunch, the game opened up and we saw wickets fall left, right and center. Day 1 was cut short but a total of 71.3 overs were bowled which was enough for Zimbabwe to be bowled out for 210 runs. Prince Masvaure starred with the bat as Barry McCarthy and Andy McBrine picked up three wickets each for Ireland.

IRELAND HAVE THEIR SECOND TEST WIN! Stormont in Belfast - the newest Test cricket venue has just witnessed an instant classic between Ireland and Zimbabwe. Hosts Ireland have gone on to win back-to-back Test matches for the first time ever, just a few months after notching up their maiden Test win. Zimbabwe played their part though and could have won the game but it wasn't meant to be. A joyous moment for Ireland as it is their first home Test victory as well and the applause from the crowd don't seem to stop.

FOUR! Done and dusted! The crowd erupts as history has been made in Belfast, two back-to-back Test wins for the Ireland! Sean Williams bowls it fuller on and around off. Mark Adair strides out and uses his bottom hand to loft it over the mid on region and no one at the long on fence to stop that. Mark Adair finishes off in style and it's a huge day for the Irish cricket team. Ireland beats Zimbabwe by four wickets in their first meeting in a Test match.

Huge appeal once again but nothing from the Umpire! Richard Ngarava bowls much fuller on middle and leg angling in. Andy Balbirnie tries to flick it but misses on the inner edge. The ball thumps the pad but it seems it would past the leg side.

Back of a length on middle. Andy McBrine shuffles a bit to pull it towards square leg but misses and thumps his stomach. The ball dropped down and got stuck in his pad. He walks off and hands the delivery to the bowler.

Singles are coming comfortably now! Fuller delivery just outside off, angling it away from the batter. Mark Adair hangs back and dabs it towards the backward point region for a single.

Excellent running and every run is now being applauded by the crowd, just 5 more required! Hard length on middle and angling in, Mark Adair pushes the ball down in front of mid on and scampers across for one.

On a good length and shaping it back into the pads, Mark Adair stabs the ball down wide of the keeper down the leg side and runs a single.

Top delivery! On a hard length on off, this one shoots off the deck and angles across sharply as Mark Adair plays inside the line of the ball.