BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Ireland achieved an impressive feat by securing their third consecutive test match victory, triumphing over Zimbabwe by 63 runs in a one-off encounter held in Bulawayo on Monday.

Since being awarded full member status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2017, Ireland has made its mark in test cricket, although they initially faced challenges, losing their first seven matches at this level.

Their fortunes changed in March 2022 when they took down Afghanistan, and they have since followed that success with two victories against Zimbabwe. In this latest match, left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys stood out with an exceptional six-wicket haul, playing a vital role in securing the win on the last day of the game.

Zimbabwe was set a daunting target of 292 runs but came up short, despite a commendable effort from Wessly Madhevere, who scored 84 runs.

Following the match, Ireland’s captain Andy Balbirnie expressed a strong desire for the team to engage in more test cricket, though he admitted he was uncertain about when their next match would take place. “We are desperate to play,” Balbirnie stated.