Bizarre Scenes in IRE vs ZIM Test: Fielder Saves Boundary but Batters Keep Running & Take 5 - WATCH

Ireland all-rounder Andy McBrine scored five runs off a single delivery on the fourth day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Belfast. The rare incident transpired when the hosts were chasing a 158-run target.

In the 18th over of their innings, Zimbabwe pacer Richard Ngarava bowled a length delivery to McBrine, who pushed it to the off side through the covers. Tendai Chatra started chasing the ball, which was racing towards the boundary rope. He managed to pull the ball in but failed to maintain his balance. His momentum led Chatra to go beyond the advertising boards placed just outside the boundary.

Though the ball remained inside, no other player from the Zimbabwe unit tried to rescue it. Tendai Chatra returned to the field and threw the back to the bowler. While all of these were happening, Andy McBrine and his batting partner Lorcan Tucker kept on running between the wickets. By the time Chatra could send the ball back, the Ireland batter had already completed five runs even though there was no overthrow.

Andy McBrine and Lorcan Tucker went on to stitch a 96-run partnership, which helped Ireland secure their first-ever Test victory on home soil. Craig Ervine won the toss and sent Zimbabwe to bat first in Belfast. The visitors produced 210 runs, riding on a 74-run knock by Prince Masvaure and Joylord Gambie’s 49.

Ireland took a 40-run lead in the first innings. Opener PJ Moor was the top scorer for the home side, registering 79 runs off 105 balls. After taking three wickets in the first innings, Andy McBrine once again shone with the ball. The spin-bowling all-rounder fetched a four-wicket haul in the second innings as Zimbabwe were bundled out for 196 runs. Among the other Irish bowlers, Mark Adair and Craig Young picked two scalps each.

Ireland faced a batting collapse during the chase as all of their top four batters returned with a single-digit score. Following the dismissal of Paul Stirling, Andy McBrine and Lorcan Tucker took over the charge and both notched a half-century. Tucker registered 56 off 64 balls while McBrine remained unbeaten at 55. Mark Adair also contributed with a 24-run cameo in the end as Ireland won the one-off Test by four wickets.