Day three, a sellout, was Club Day with spectators encouraged to attend in their respective club colours. The day started with Zimbabwe still in arrears by 28 and Ireland looking to take early wickets to put pressure on the visitors. Disappointingly for Ireland the day started rather luckily for Zimbabwe opener Masvaure who was missed off successive balls in Barry McCarthy’s first over. First by the bowler himself when he spilled a caught and bowled and then the opener edged one just out of the reach of third slip.
With Zimbabwe still two runs behind Ireland struck in successive overs when first Gumbie was caught at second slip by Balbirnie off the bowling of Young and then in the next over Masvaure was caught behind off McCarthy leaving the Chevrons 38-2. Myers and Ervine were rebuilding after those two quick wickets and Ireland wanted another one before lunch and they got it! With the score on 66 skipper Ervine was adjudged LBW to Adair. No further alarms before lunch saw the score reach 96 at the interval.
Played resumed after lunch with Zimbabwe passing 100 in the 31st over. The visitor’s lead was slowly building as the fourth wicket partnership reached 50 with both batsmen looking comfortable apart from Mayers getting a life when Humphreys put down a catch off McBrine's delivery.
Ireland fought back though as Young had the dangerous Williams caught behind with the score on 135. At the drinks break the visitors had stretched their lead to exactly 100. Soon after the fifth wicket fell when PJ Moor took a very smart catch at short leg to give Matthew Humphreys his first Test wicket.
The score had moved onto 174 and Ireland struck taking two wickets in quick succession. First Madande skied one to extra cover and was caught by Barry McCarthy off the bowling of Andy McBrine and Adair had Mayers lbw for 57. Then on the stroke of tea Muzarabani skied one and fell to an excellent catch by Harry Tector leaving Zimbabwe on 182-8, a lead of 142.
Slow progress was made after tea by Zimbabwe, against it must be said some good Ireland bowling, as they stretched their lead to 150. Unfortunately, Chivanga had to retire hurt after being struck directly on the helmet by a McCarthy bouncer. Zimbabwe then lost their ninth wicket to McBrine and rather surprisingly the retired hurt Chivanga returned to the fray! He didn’t last long holing out to Adair at extra cover. Zimbabwe all out 197 in 71 overs, leaving Ireland 158 to win this historic Test Match.
Most successful of the Ireland bowlers was Andy McBrine with 4-38 with Adair and Young picking up two apiece. McCarthy bowled very well also without success.
So Balbirnie and Moor opened for Ireland in pursuit of the 158 runs required for victory but Zimbabwe struck first blood having first innings top scorer Moor caught at short leg for 0. Then next ball Campher was caught in the gully by Bennett, Ireland 6-2. Soon to become 6-3 as Balbirnie was snaffled in the slips by Masvaure. It just got worse for the home side as Tector was caught behind for 0 leaving Ireland rocking on 16-4 and the madness continued as Stirling was caught behind 21-5!! Then bad light and rain stopped play for the day with Ireland 33-5.
