In the ongoing one-off Test match between Ireland and Zimbabwe at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, Clive Madande has had an extremely difficult couple of days. This is the wicketkeeper-batter from Zimbabwe’s debut Test match; he has played in 30 T20Is and 15 ODIs.
Day 2: Madande conceded Ireland’s opening innings of 42 runs due to byes. As a result, byes finished the innings with the second-highest run total of 250 after Ireland was bowled out. The Zimbabwean opening duo of Prince Masvaure and Joylord Gumbie skilfully navigated a four-over surge to propel their side to 12/0 at Stumps after the hosts had taken a 40-run advantage in the first innings.
In a Test match, Clive Madande set an unwelcome record by giving up the most byes.
In the 147-year history of Test matches, this was the first occasion in which a wicketkeeper gave up more than 40 runs as byes. The debutant shattered the record held by England’s Les Ames, who in a 1934 Test match at The Oval against Australia, handed up 37 runs as byes. As a result of their lack of discipline, Zimbabwe gave up 59 runs in extras.
Day 1’s first innings saw Madande removed for a golden duck, setting the stage for his dismal performance with the gloves. There is still a lot of cricket to be played in the Test match, so the 24-year-old will be looking to put his poor performances behind him and return strong.
On Day 2, former Zimbabwean cricketer Peter Moor shone for Ireland, top-scoring with a 79 off 105 balls while striking 11 fours in his innings. He stitched two half-centuries with Paul Stirling and captain Andy Balbirnie. With Ireland on 203, Zimbabwe continued to chip away at the wickets and claimed the penultimate one. But Matthew Humphreys and Andy McBrine’s counterattacking 47-run partnership off 44 balls gave the European team a comfortable 40-run lead.
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Tanaka Chivanga and Blessing Muzarabani, who are both in form, each claimed three wickets for Zimbabwe. Sean Williams and Tendai Chatara both contributed two wickets in the interim. The two teams will aim to complete Day 3 in a strong position because the match is so evenly matched.
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