In an exciting moment during the Ireland vs Zimbabwe Test match in Belfast, something rare happened: Ireland’s batters managed to run 5 runs in a single delivery without any overthrow. This rare event occurred on the fifth day of the match while Ireland was chasing 157 runs. Andy McBrine hit Richard Ngarva’s delivery towards the boundary, but the Zimbabwe fielder’s attempt to save the ball ended up giving Ireland five runs.
A Rare Five-Run Event
In the 18th over of Ireland’s second innings, Andy McBrine struck the ball towards the boundary. The fielder in the cover region chased the ball down and managed to stop it just before the rope. However, he overran and went past the ball, crossing the boundary line. By the time he returned to pick the ball and throw it back, Andy McBrine and Lorcan Tucker had already run five runs. While running three runs is common, and four runs are rare, running five runs without an overthrow is almost unheard of in cricket.
ONE OF THE RARE OCCASIONS IN CRICKET…!!! 😲
A Zimbabwean fielder saves the four, but the batter ran 5 runs. 😄pic.twitter.com/0AAhdi62Pf
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 29, 2024
Checking the Boundary
There was some confusion about whether the fielder had touched the boundary while stopping the ball. Zimbabwe’s players hoped he had, but after checking, the umpires confirmed that he had saved the boundary cleanly. Thus, Ireland earned five runs from this delivery, turning a routine play into a memorable moment.
Turning the Game Around
Ireland found themselves in a tough spot, having lost five wickets for just 21 runs while chasing 157. However, a crucial 96-run partnership between Andy McBrine and Lorcan Tucker shifted the momentum in their favor. This partnership was vital in putting Ireland back in control of the match. Ultimately, Ireland won the Test match by six wickets, thanks to the efforts of McBrine and Tucker.
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Upcoming Matches
After this thrilling Test match, Ireland is set to play a T20 and ODI series against South Africa in September. This five-match white-ball tour will be hosted by the UAE. On the other hand, the Zimbabwe team has a four-month break before their next series. They will play three T20Is and three ODIs against Pakistan, starting on November 24.
