ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

ZIMBABWE XI v IRELAND Unlike Cricket Scotland, who agreed to abide by the United Kingdom government advice of not visiting Zimbabwe, the Irish Cricket Union opted to play in Harare, fielding a strong side which included all their players from Northern Ireland. Ireland had much the better of the first day in spite of a shaky start in the morning session. Paul Stirling continued to have problems adjusting from one-day to four-day cricket and, attempting to score runs too quickly, departed after trying to pull a short ball from Shingirai Masakadza, only to edge it to slip. Niall O’Brien and Andre Botha fell to similar catches by Vusi Sibanda to leave Ireland on 72 for three. William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien retaliated, both hitting half-centuries before becoming victims of Regis Chakabva who gave a good display behind the stumps. Andrew White and Gary Wilson put on 96 for the sixth wicket with patient, sensible batting but, just as it looked as though they were gaining mastery over the home attack, Wilson provided Chakabva with his third catch. John Mooney and White both benefited from dropped catches before the close, by which time White had reached 97, with 11 boundaries. White needed nine balls to reach his century on the second day but was then almost immediately bowled by Masakadza. He had batted for just over four hours and achieved a strike rate of 57.9. Although Trent Johnston did not stay long, giving Sibanda his fourth catch of the innings, Mooney and George Dockrell put on 75 before Mooney offered Masakadza a caught-and-bowled chance, which was duly taken, to give the bowler his fifth wicket. Allan Eastwood helped in a last-wicket partnership of 27, aided by being missed twice in three balls. With a total of 465 behind them, Ireland removed Stuart Matsikenyeri with only seven on the board. Steve Marillier and Sean Williams, however, found batting conditions to their liking, adding 100 for the second wicket before Marillier was caught by Wilson off Johnston. Sibanda was then caught behind off the same bowler to give him all three Zimbabwean wickets. Williams, however, was playing confidently. With Keith Dabengwa providing anchor with 17 runs from 61 balls, Zimbabwe reached 175 at the close, still 290 runs behind but having laid a solid foundation. The Irish bowlers struggled to make a breakthrough. Eight bowlers were tried and with Botha unable to bowl because of an injury to his right hand in a warm-up accident which required two stitches, Zimbabwe looked well-placed. The home side dominated the third day as Williams and Dabengwa both made centuries in a fourth-wicket partnership of 237 runs. Ireland toiled for 46 overs before Williams finally made an error, giving a catch to Wilson off Mooney. He had batted for six hours and nine minutes for 178 runs with 24 fours. Dabengwa took over the scoring mantle in a partnership of 104 with Chakabva and went on to reach 140. Kevin O’Brien removed Dabengwa and Chakabva in the space of seven balls, but by this time Zimbabwe were only eight runs behind with four wickets still to fall. Dabengwa’s innings lasted six hours and 21 minutes and his runs came at a strike rate of 48.1; Chakabva made his 54 in two hours and 24 minutes at 54.5. Zimbabwe were far from finished, however, as Forster Mutizwa and Masakadza took them past 500 before the end of the day. Johnston left the field in the last session with a recurrence of his knee injury. As expected at the end of day three, the match ended in a tame draw. Not knowing how best to balance a declaration between scoring sufficient runs to provide the possibility of an innings victory and leaving enough time to bowl Ireland out, Zimbabwe batted on until all their wickets were consumed. Mutizwa became the fourth Zimbabwean to reach fifty, finishing unbeaten on 67, made at a strike rate of 59.2. Kevin O’Brien obtained two more wickets and was largely responsible for keeping Zimbabwe’s total under 600. With a deficit of 125 and 54 overs remaining, Ireland lost Stirling in the second over, but Porterfield and Niall O’Brien made sure there was no embarrassment as they added 97 for the second wicket. It was the home side’s turn to use eight bowlers. Neither batsman was able to survive the day and there was a little idiocy at the end as Dockrell was sent in, simulating a nightwatchman role, to join Wilson. He lasted two balls and it was left to Kevin O’Brien to take the match to the inevitable draw. 214 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10