IRE vs ZIM Only Test: Clive Madande concedes most byes in an innings, breaks unwanted 147-year-old record on Test debut

Clive Madande. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Clive Madande has had a really tough couple of days in the ongoing one-off Test match between Ireland and Zimbabwe at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The Zimbabwean wicketkeeper-batter, who has the experience of playing 15 ODIs and 30 T20Is, is playing his first Test match.

On Day 2, Madande gave away a whopping 42 runs as byes in Ireland’s first innings. Therefore, byes was the second-highest run-scorer in the innings as Ireland were bundled out for 250. The hosts took a 40-run first innings lead before the Zimbabwean opening pair of Prince Masvaure and Joylord Gumbie safely negotiated a four-over burst to take their team to 12/0 at Stumps.

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Madande created an unwanted record of conceding the most byes in a Test match. This was the first time in the 147-year history that a wicketkeeper conceded over 40 runs as byes in a Test match. The debutant broke the record of England’s Les Ames, who gave away 37 runs as byes against Australia in a Test match at The Oval in 1934. A total of 59 runs were conceded as extras by Zimbabwe as their indiscipline let them down.

Madande’s poor outing with the gloves came after he had been dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings on Day 1. The 24-year-old will look to forget his woeful outings and come back strongly, as a lot of cricket is left to be played in the Test match.

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Former Zimbabwe cricketer Peter Moor starred for Ireland on Day 2, as he top-scored with a 105-ball 79, hitting 11 fours during his innings. He stitched two half-century partnerships alongside skipper Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling. Zimbabwe kept chipping away at the wickets and picked up the penultimate one with Ireland being on 203. However, a counter-attacking 47-run partnership off 44 balls between Matthew Humphreys and Andy McBrine helped the European side take a handy 40-run lead.

For Zimbabwe, the in-form Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga bagged three wickets apiece. Meanwhile, Tendai Chatara and Sean Williams chipped in with two wickets each. The match is intriguingly poised and the two teams will want to get into a strong position at the end of Day 3.