The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Vs Ireland Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the one-off Test at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, was a closely contested five-day match that ultimately ended with Ireland securing a 63-run victory. Ireland scored 260 in the first innings and 298 in the second, while Zimbabwe replied with 267 and 228.Ireland’s victory was built around a strong second innings and disciplined bowling. Andy McBrine was named Player of the Match after contributing a crucial 90 not out in Ireland’s first innings and taking three wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings. Matthew Humphreys was also outstanding, claiming six wickets in Zimbabwe’s second innings.
Match Summary
| Match Detail | Information |
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Ireland, Only Test |
| Date | February 6–10, 2025 |
| Venue | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo |
| Toss | Ireland won the toss and elected to bat |
| Ireland 1st Innings | 260 all out |
| Zimbabwe 1st Innings | 267 all out |
| Ireland 2nd Innings | 298 all out |
| Zimbabwe 2nd Innings | 228 all out |
| Result | Ireland won by 63 runs |
| Player of the Match | Andy McBrine |
The scorecard confirms that Ireland overcame a seven-run first-innings deficit before setting Zimbabwe a challenging fourth-innings target.
First Innings Scorecard
Ireland 1st Innings — 260 All Out
Ireland initially struggled after losing several top-order wickets cheaply. Andy McBrine’s unbeaten 90 and Mark Adair’s 78 rescued the innings and lifted Ireland to 260. Lorcan Tucker also made 33 from 28 balls.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Peter Moor | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Andy Balbirnie | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Curtis Campher | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Harry Tector | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Stirling | 10 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Lorcan Tucker | 33 | 28 | 7 | 0 |
| Andy McBrine | 90* | 132 | 12 | 0 |
| Mark Adair | 78 | 91 | 13 | 0 |
| Barry McCarthy | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Young | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Humphreys | 8 | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 260 all out | 56.4 ov |
Blessing Muzarabani was Zimbabwe’s leading bowler with 7/58, while Richard Ngarava took two wickets.
Zimbabwe 1st Innings — 267 All Out
Zimbabwe responded with 267, taking a seven-run lead. Nick Welch was the standout batter with 90 from 173 balls, while Blessing Muzarabani added an important 47.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Takudzwanashe Kaitano | 26 | 66 | 3 | 0 |
| Ben Curran | 12 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Nick Welch | 90 | 173 | 9 | 1 |
| Brian Bennett | 7 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Wessly Madhevere | 26 | 31 | 2 | 1 |
| Johnathan Campbell | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Nyasha Mayavo | 18 | 23 | 2 | 1 |
| Newman Nyamhuri | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Ngarava | 15 | 41 | 1 | 0 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 47 | 68 | 6 | 0 |
| Trevor Gwandu | 18* | 79 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 267 all out | 86.1 ov |
Barry McCarthy led Ireland’s bowling attack with 4/75, while Andy McBrine claimed three wickets.
Second Innings Scorecard
Ireland 2nd Innings — 298 All Out
Ireland’s second innings proved decisive. Andy Balbirnie scored 66, Lorcan Tucker made 58 and Curtis Campher contributed 39. Ireland eventually reached 298, giving them a 291-run overall lead after accounting for Zimbabwe’s first-innings advantage.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Peter Moor | 30 | 33 | 5 | 0 |
| Andy Balbirnie | 66 | 160 | 2 | 0 |
| Curtis Campher | 39 | 99 | 6 | 0 |
| Harry Tector | 17 | 43 | 1 | 0 |
| Paul Stirling | 21 | 29 | 1 | 2 |
| Lorcan Tucker | 58 | 95 | 6 | 1 |
| Andy McBrine | 16 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Adair | 15 | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| Barry McCarthy | 11 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Young | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Humphreys | 1* | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 298 all out | 93.3 ov |
Richard Ngarava was Zimbabwe’s best bowler in the second innings, taking 4/55, while Trevor Gwandu claimed two wickets.
Zimbabwe 2nd Innings — 228 All Out
Zimbabwe began the chase under pressure and lost early wickets. Wessly Madhevere fought hard with 84 from 195 balls, while Brian Bennett scored 45 and Johnathan Campbell made 33. However, Ireland’s Matthew Humphreys dismantled the lower order with a superb 6/57.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Takudzwanashe Kaitano | 14 | 20 | 3 | 0 |
| Ben Curran | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Welch | 5 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Bennett | 45 | 72 | 3 | 0 |
| Trevor Gwandu | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Wessly Madhevere | 84 | 195 | 8 | 0 |
| Johnathan Campbell | 33 | 62 | 3 | 0 |
| Nyasha Mayavo | 8 | 30 | 2 | 0 |
| Newman Nyamhuri | 8 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Ngarava | 14 | 40 | 1 | 0 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 1* | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 228 all out | 86.4 ov |
Humphreys finished with six wickets, while Barry McCarthy took two and Andy McBrine claimed one.
Top Performers From the Match
Andy McBrine — Player of the Match
Andy McBrine was the central figure in Ireland’s victory. His unbeaten 90 in the first innings prevented Ireland from being bowled out for a much smaller total, and he later added three wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings. His overall contribution earned him the Player of the Match award.
Matthew Humphreys — Match-Winning Bowling
Humphreys delivered one of the most important spells of the match in Zimbabwe’s second innings. His 6/57 from 28 overs destroyed Zimbabwe’s resistance and helped Ireland complete the victory.
Nick Welch — Zimbabwe’s Leading First-Innings Batter
Welch scored 90 in Zimbabwe’s first innings, occupying the crease for 173 balls. His innings helped Zimbabwe move past Ireland’s first-innings total and take a narrow lead.
Wessly Madhevere — Zimbabwe’s Best Batter in the Chase
Madhevere’s 84 was Zimbabwe’s highest score of the second innings. His long stay at the crease kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive, but Ireland continued taking wickets around him.
Key Stats and Records From the Match
| Statistic | Record |
| Match result | Ireland won by 63 runs |
| Ireland 1st innings | 260 |
| Zimbabwe 1st innings | 267 |
| Ireland 2nd innings | 298 |
| Zimbabwe 2nd innings | 228 |
| Highest individual score | Andy McBrine — 90 |
| Zimbabwe’s highest score | Nick Welch — 90 |
| Best bowling in match | Matthew Humphreys — 6/57 |
| Zimbabwe’s best bowling | Blessing Muzarabani — 7/58 |
| Ireland’s second-innings lead | 31 runs |
| Target for Zimbabwe | 292 |
| Zimbabwe’s final score | 228 |
The most striking bowling figures came from Muzarabani and Humphreys: Muzarabani took seven wickets in Ireland’s first innings, while Humphreys responded with six in Zimbabwe’s second innings.
Match Result and Winning Team
Ireland won the Test by 63 runs.
Ireland posted 260 in their first innings before Zimbabwe edged ahead with 267. The visitors then produced 298 in the second innings, setting Zimbabwe a target of 292. Zimbabwe reached 228 before being bowled out, giving Ireland a 63-run victory.
The result was particularly significant because Ireland showed the ability to recover after conceding a first-innings lead. Their second-innings batting and disciplined bowling turned a tight contest into a memorable Test victory.
Partnerships and Fall of Wickets
Important Partnerships
Ireland’s first innings was shaped by the partnership between Andy McBrine and Mark Adair, who rebuilt the innings after Ireland’s top order had collapsed. McBrine’s 90 and Adair’s 78 were the key contributions in reaching 260.
In Zimbabwe’s first innings, Nick Welch’s 90 provided the backbone of the score. In the second innings, Madhevere’s 84 was the main source of resistance.
Ireland First-Innings Fall of Wickets
Ireland lost Peter Moor at 4, Curtis Campher at 17, Andy Balbirnie at 19, Harry Tector at 20 and Paul Stirling at 31. The innings was then rebuilt before the final wickets fell between 209 and 260.
Zimbabwe First-Innings Fall of Wickets
Zimbabwe lost Ben Curran at 26, Kaitano at 77 and Bennett at 97. The middle order then took the score beyond 170 before Ireland’s bowlers eventually dismissed the final wickets at 267.
Ireland Second-Innings Fall of Wickets
Ireland reached 46 before losing Peter Moor, then moved to 121 before Curtis Campher departed. Balbirnie’s 66 and Tucker’s 58 helped Ireland build toward 298.
Zimbabwe Second-Innings Fall of Wickets
Zimbabwe were in serious trouble at 32/3 and later slipped to 40/4. Madhevere and Campbell rebuilt the innings, but Ireland’s bowlers repeatedly broke partnerships. Humphreys eventually completed his six-wicket haul as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 228.
Player of the Match
Andy McBrine — Ireland
McBrine was named Player of the Match after his all-round contribution. His unbeaten 90 in Ireland’s first innings was particularly important because Ireland had fallen to 31/5 before recovering to 260. He also took three wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings.
Match Summary and Key Moments
The match began with Ireland choosing to bat after winning the toss. Zimbabwe’s bowlers quickly made an impact, with Blessing Muzarabani eventually taking seven wickets. However, McBrine’s 90 and Adair’s 78 enabled Ireland to post 260.
Zimbabwe responded with 267. Nick Welch’s 90 was the standout contribution, while Muzarabani’s 47 helped the hosts secure a seven-run first-innings advantage.
Ireland’s second innings was more controlled. Balbirnie scored 66 and Tucker made 58 as Ireland reached 298. That gave Zimbabwe a target of 292.
Zimbabwe’s chase started badly, and Ireland’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Madhevere’s 84 and Bennett’s 45 provided resistance, but Humphreys produced a decisive six-wicket spell. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 228, sealing Ireland’s 63-run victory.
Head-to-Head Record and Previous Meetings
Zimbabwe and Ireland have developed a competitive Test rivalry, with several matches decided by relatively small margins.
Their previous Test meeting in July 2024 was also won by Ireland. Playing at Stormont in Belfast, Ireland chased 158 and won by four wickets after Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine produced a crucial sixth-wicket partnership.
The 2025 Bulawayo Test therefore gave Ireland another important victory over Zimbabwe. The two sides’ recent meetings have demonstrated that their Test contests can produce dramatic swings in momentum and strong performances from both bowling attacks.
Final Thoughts
The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Vs Ireland Cricket Team Match Scorecard highlights how closely matched these teams can be when they meet on the international stage. While their 2026 T20 World Cup encounter ended without a ball being bowled, earlier meetings have produced much more action. Zimbabwe’s 2025 T20I series victory showed their ability to handle pressure in close games, including a three-wicket win in the second match after Ireland posted 137/8. The rivalry continues to offer competitive cricket, with both teams relying on disciplined bowling, aggressive batting, and experienced players to influence important matches.
FAQs
1. What happened in the 2026 Zimbabwe vs Ireland T20 World Cup match?
The match was abandoned because of rain, with no toss taking place.
2. Where was the Zimbabwe vs Ireland T20 World Cup match played?
The match was scheduled at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.
3. Did Zimbabwe and Ireland play a T20I series before the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Zimbabwe hosted Ireland for a T20I series in 2025, including a second T20I that Zimbabwe won by three wickets.
4. What was Ireland’s score in the second T20I of the 2025 series?
Ireland scored 137/8 from 20 overs before Zimbabwe chased the target with three wickets remaining.
5. Where can fans find a full scorecard?
Detailed scorecards and ball-by-ball information are available through major cricket scorecard platforms, including ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
