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Matthew Humphreys Scales Huge Ireland Record After Win Vs Zimbabwe

Aakash Saini

Matthew Humphreys celebrating a wicket on Day 5 [Source: @cricketireland/x]Matthew Humphreys celebrating a wicket on Day 5 [Source: @cricketireland/x]

Ireland left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys skittled Zimbabwe in the one-off Test at Bulawayo with an exceptional six-wicket haul. After trapping number three batter Nick Welch and a well-set Brian Bennett on Day 4, the 22-year-old mopped up the Zimbabwean tail to headline Ireland’s 63-run win on the final day of the match.

Through the course of his match-winning spell, Humphreys attained a significant Irish record, previously held by teammate Andy McBrine.

Matthew Humphreys records Ireland’s best bowling spell

Matthew Humphreys sent down 28 overs during the decisive innings of Ireland's one-off Test match Vs Zimbabwe. The cricketer trapped Nick Welch earlier in the innings, before breaking Brian Bennett’s 65-run partnership with Wessly Madhevere for the fifth wicket.

Humphreys also removed Zimbabwe captain Johnathan Campbell and Nyasha Mayavo during the closing stages of Day 4, and added two more wickets to his tally on the fifth morning to claim astonishing figures of 6-57, the best ever by any Irish bowler in Test cricket.


The record for Ireland’s best bowling figures in a Test innings previously belonged to off-spinner Andy McBrine, who picked up a six-wicket haul at an expense of 118 runs against Bangladesh in Mirpur back in April 2023. Here is a look at five of the best bowling figures ever recorded by Irish bowlers in Test cricket:

Player
Figures
Opponent, Year
Matthew Humphreys6-57Zimbabwe , 2025
Andy McBrine6-118Bangladesh , 2023
Tim Murtagh5-13England, 2019
Mark Adair
5-39Afghanistan, 2024
Andy McBrine4-38Zimbabwe , 2024

Ireland tour of Zimbabwe 2025

Ireland won the one-off Test in Bulawayo by 63 runs, with Andy McBrine taking home the ‘Player of the Match’ award for scoring an unbeaten 90 in the first innings and for picking up a four-wicket haul across both innings.

The two teams will now collide in a three-match ODI series, slated to be hosted by the Harare Sports Club in Harare between February 14 and February 18. The venue will also host a three-match T20I series between February 22 and February 25 to conclude Ireland’s three-week long tour to Zimbabwe.