ZIMBABWE moved to second place in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup following a draw with visiting Ireland in a four-day cricket match that ended in Harare on Thursday.
The hosts had the better of a high-scoring draw against Ireland, earning six points based on a first-innings lead of 125 that has left them tied with Scotland on 69 points in the Intercontinental Cup points table.
Log leaders Afghanistan have already qualified for the final and it remains to be seen who between Zimbabwe and Scotland will join the Asian side.
Scotland has refused to tour Zimbabwe in October citing concerns about the political environment while Zimbabwe has ruled out the possibility of playing at a neutral venue.
Thursday’s draw with Ireland and the subsequent improvement in Zimbabwe’s log standings leaves the ICC with a tough decision to make on the fate of the outstanding match between the two countries.
The final will be played in Dubai from November 25-29.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup is a tournament reserved for upcoming cricket nations.
Ireland batted out the final day to draw in Harare on Thursday – all but evaporating their hopes of making the final.
Centuries from Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa saw Zimbabwe resume on 506 for six and they eventually reached 590 in response to the visitors' 465.
Forster Mutizwa finished 67 not out as Kevin O'Brien took the last two wickets to finish with four for 104, Trent Johnston claiming four for 118.
Ireland's second innings started badly as they lost opener Paul Stirling for one in the second over, but captain Will Porterfield and wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien settled their nerves with a second-wicket stand of 97.
Porterfield finally fell for 66 and O'Brien, who also added 33 with Gary Wilson, made 41.
George Dockrell was dismissed without scoring but Wilson's 35 not out saw Ireland to the close with no further alarms as they finished on 151 for four.
Zimbabwe has been in self-imposed isolation from Test cricket since 2006 when it did not have the players to field a competitive team, but the country’s cricket board recently laid out an 18-month plan to return to international competition.