Rain forced the first Twenty20 international between Zimbabwe and Ireland on Saturday to be abandoned with no result after the hosts made 77-5 in a match reduced to nine overs-a-side.

Ryan Burl struck 36 for Zimbabwe, including three sixes and two fours, before Harry Tector made a brilliant catch at long on off a short-pitched Josh Little delivery.

Quick bowler Little (2-8) and medium-pacer Craig Young (2-15) shared the Irish bowling honours at Harare Sports Club.

Rain delayed the start by 135 minutes in the first match of three, then returned before Ireland could bat.

The teams are scheduled to play again on Sunday and Tuesday in the final section of an all-format tour. Ireland triumphed in a one-off test, then Zimbabwe won an one-day international series 2-1.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 77-5 (R. Burl 36; J. Little 2-8, C. Young 2-15) v Ireland. Reduced to nine-over match after rain delayed start. More rain after Zimbabwe innings forced match to be abandoned

Ireland needed 18 overs on the final morning to secure a 63-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe in their one-off test in Bulawayo on Monday.

Matthew Humphreys finished with 6-57 as he took two of the three wickets Ireland required after Zimbabwe resumed on 183-7, chasing a target of 292 to win.

Zimbabwe’s faint hopes rested on Wessly Madhevere, who was 61 not overnight, but he was undone done by the second new ball when Humphreys bowled him for 84.

The teams begin a three-match one-day international series in Harare on Friday.

Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie said his side never stopped believing in themselves after they recorded their first win in a home test match with a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Belfast on Sunday.

The hosts were struggling at 21-5 while chasing a target of 158 in the fourth innings but Lorcan Tucker (56) and Andy McBrine (55 not out) built a 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket to help them clinch their second-ever test match win.

"We did believe last night. We had our two best batters out ... that partnership was special," Balbirnie said after winning the one-off test.

"It's entertaining stuff, can't watch at times. We worked hard, got ourselves back a couple times and got through in the end.

"There's no qualification on the line but you see what it means to the team," Balbirnie added.

Andy McBrine starred with both bat and ball as Ireland beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in a one-off test in Belfast on Sunday after recovering from a dramatic top-order collapse.

Set just 158 to win in the shadow of Stormont Castle, Ireland had slumped to 33-5 at the close of Saturday's third day, with Zimbabwe left-arm quick Richard Ngarava doing the bulk of the damage in a sensational burst of 4-12 in four overs.

But in the first test to be played in Northern Ireland, the home side lost just one more wicket on Sunday.

Lorcan Tucker (56) and McBrine, who completed a fine all-round match to be 55 not out, turned the tide after coming together when Ireland had collapsed to 21-5.

The added 96 for the sixth wicket before Tucker chopped on from Blessing Muzarabani with Ireland still 41 runs short of victory.

Mark Adair, however, who was born in nearby Hollywood, settled quickly making 24 not out and hitting the winning boundary as Ireland finished on 158-6 to triumph with more than a day to spare.

Back-to-back ☘️

✅ First Test in Northern Ireland
✅ First Test win at home#BackingGreen #Test9 pic.twitter.com/tdolpMZzKM

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) July 28, 2024

Offspinner McBrine was named player of the match after the 31-year-old took a combined 7-75 across Zimbabwe's two innings.

"McBrine is the guy you want to put in your cricket bag and take everywhere. Exceptionally skilful and deserved the award today," said Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie.

Victory gave Ireland, who lost their opening seven tests, a first home win in the format and back-to-back successes after they had beaten Afghanistan for their test first win in March.

"We did believe last night," said Balbirnie.

"We had our two best batters out (there). That partnership was special. It was fitting for Mark, hometown boy, to get us over the line."

Stormont became the second test venue in Ireland after Malahide and the 123rd in the history of test cricket.

An historic Day Four 👏👏👏

Read our report from the men's test between Ireland and Zimbabwe.

👉 https://t.co/FFdkuboYm9#BackingGreen ☘️ pic.twitter.com/2Zkv0rsfUP

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) July 28, 2024

"Probably didn't think growing up that there'd be a test here," said McBrine, who comes from the Northern Ireland village of Donemana.

"We tried to be as positive as we can."

McBrine said he had been "working hard behind the scenes" on his bowling before paying tribute to Ireland's quicks.

"It was not an easy wicket to bowl on but the way they rotated allowed me to take wickets as well."

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine was left thinking of what might have been had they been able to continue on Saturday night when Ireland were on the ropes at 33-5.

"We'd have liked five, six more overs last night," he said. "Our games against have Ireland have always been competitive."

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ZIMBABWE: 210 (P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A McBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42) and 197 (D Myers 57, S Williams 40; A McBrine 4-38) 

IRELAND: 250 (PJ Moor 79; T Chivanga 3-39, B Muzarabani 3-53) and 158-6 (L Tucker 56, A McBrine 55 no; R Ngarava 4-53)

Richard Ngarava took four Ireland top-order wickets as Zimbabwe hit back in dramatic style to take charge of a one-off test in Belfast on Saturday.

Zimbabwe started the third day on 12-0 but were dismissed for 197 in their second innings, with Ireland offspinner Andy McBrine taking 4-38.

That left Ireland with a victory target of 158 but their leading batsmen proved powerless to resist 26-year-old left-arm paceman Ngarava, who had the superb stumps figures of 4-12 from four overs, with the hosts 33-5 at the close and still needing a further 125 runs to win.

Zimbabwe had almost erased a first-innings deficit of 40 runs when Joylord Gumbie was caught in the slips off Craig Young.

Three balls later, Barry McCarthy had Prince Masvaure, the other Zimbabwe opener, caught behind before Craig Ervine was lbw to Mark Adair.

But a stand of 68 between Sean Williams and Dion Myers, who top-scored in the innings with 57, helped turn the tide before Williams was out for 40.

McBrine cleaned up the tail to leave Ireland with a seemingly modest target and more than two days in which to get the runs.

Ngarava had other ideas, however, as he took two wickets in two balls to dismiss Peter Moor and Curtis Campher.

New-ball partner Blessing Muzarabani then got in on the act by removing Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie.

Ngarava continued the collapse, with Harry Tector (nought) and Paul Stirling (10) both caught behind by wicketkeeper Clive Madande before rain cut short the day's play.

Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Clive Madande broke a 90-year unwanted record when he conceded 42 byes in a test innings against Ireland on Friday.

The runs given away by the 24-year-old Madande, enduring a tough debut after he was out for a duck on Thursday's first day at Stormont, were more than Ireland's 40-run first-innings lead as they made 250 in reply to Zimbabwe's 210.

The byes were not entirely his fault as he had to deal with his bowlers sending several deliveries down the legside as well as late swing after the ball had passed the bat.

One consolation for Madande was the record he surpassed was set by England's Les Ames – widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen – who gave away 37 byes in Australia's total of 327 in a test at The Oval back in 1934.

Zimbabwe might still have led on first innings but for a last-wicket stand of 47 between Andy McBrine (28) and Matthew Humphreys (27 not out).

Joylord Gumbie and Prince Masvaure then batted out the final 15 minutes to leave Zimbabwe 12-0 in their second innings at stumps on a rain-marred second day of this one-off test, a deficit of 28 runs.

Stumps on Day 2 at Stormont in Belfast : Zimbabwe close on 12 without loss after bowling Ireland out for 250 🏏

(Joylord Gumbie 7*, Prince Masvaure 4*), trail by 28 runs

Scorecard 📝: https://t.co/S1jGNvGdGB

#IREvZIM #TestMatch pic.twitter.com/X28qWvLbzd

— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) July 26, 2024

Earlier, former Zimbabwe international Peter Moor top-scored for Ireland with 79.

It was the highest test score by an Ireland opener in tests, with Moor falling just four short of his best, which came when playing for Zimbabwe in 2018.

Zimbabwe's Tanaka Chivanga (3-39) took his first three test wickets in what is just his second match at this level, while fellow paceman Blessing Muzarabani also impressed with 3-53.

Barry McCarthy took three wickets as Ireland recovered to dismiss Zimbabwe for 210 on the opening day of a historic one-off test in Belfast on Thursday.

As soon as a toss at the Stormont ground won by home captain Andy Balbirnie was complete, the match was assured of a place in the record books as the first test staged in Northern Ireland.

But Zimbabwe, after openers Prince Masvaure (74) and Joylord Gumbie (49) had shared an opening stand of 97, were well-placed at 143 for two only to lose their last eight wickets for 57 runs.

McCarthy took 3-42 and offspinner Andy McBrine followed up with 3-37.

"I think the two openers batted quite nicely," said McCarthy, who was glad to see Ireland eventually take advantage of favourable conditions for pace bowling.

"The bounce and shape was nice, something you love as a bowler. We knew if we get one or two, the wickets would follow."

Masvaure, a 35-year-old left-hander, said he was happy "to come into the side and put in a solid performance", adding: "I would've loved to go all the way (to a hundred). It was nice that Gumbie was positive and gave us that start we needed...we'll take that score."

Gumbie fell one short of a fifty on test debut when he chipped seamer McCarthy to Curtis Campher at square leg.

But Masvaure completed a fourth fifty in his ninth test as Zimbabwe ended a rain-marred second session on 153 for three.

Masvaure had surpassed his previous highest test score of 65 when he was well caught down the legside by wicketkeeper Locran Tucker off Campher to end a 152-ball innings including eight fours.

McBrine then struck twice in two balls, with Clive Madande out for a golden duck before McCarthy returned to end the innings in the 72nd over when Tendai Chatara was caught behind.

Ireland were then spared what could have been an awkward start to their reply when a fresh downpour cut short the first day's play.

BRIEF SCORES

Zimbabwe 1st Innings 210 (P Masvaure 74, J Gumbie 49; A McBrine 3-37, B McCarthy 3-42)

Toss: Ireland