Outline of Zimbabwe The tour began with two days of acclimatisation in Harare, followed by a flight to Victoria Falls (culminating in a quite frightening landing in a thunderstorm) where the New Year was welcomed in during two further days of awe-inspiring views of the mighty Falls. The cricket began in earnest 60 miles away against a Hwange Select side at the Tom Eanon Oval, home of Wankie Colliery Cricket Club.

Two inches of rain overnight made it seem unlikely that the match would take place but the sun dries the ground so rapidly in those latitudes that the game was able to start two hours late but reduced to 45 overs per side. Mike Halliday lost the toss (as he was to do on every subsequent occasion) and Ireland were put into bat on the damp, drying wicket. The early part of the Irish innings was to set the pattern for so much of the batting on the tour — batsmen trying to play extravagant shots long before they had got the measure of either the pitch or bowlers. The slow bowlers especially produced a glut of rash shots. Having slumped to 90 for 7 against the spin of Radloff and Greenop, the innings was saved by an exciting and belligerent knock from Paul Jackson. After just 42 overs the innings ended at 140.

Hwange were given a fine start by openers Murphy and Stylianou followed by the hard-hitting Radloff and Moore. However, Halliday bowled his nine overs for just ten runs and Junior McBrine took three wickets to bring the Irish back into a game that Hwange had seemed to be winning easily. Going into the last six overs the home team needed just 22 to win with plenty of wickets in hand but then Hugh Milling and Jim Patterson produced some very determined bowling to the extent that the batsmen managed just 21 runs — and failed to score off the last delivery from Milling. So a tie was rescued from what was, apart from the final overs, a disappointing performance.

The tourists arrived in Bulawayo to be greeted by four hours of torrential rain which got under the covers at the Bulawayo Athletic Club and ensured that the two-day game starting the next day would be played on a sticky drying wicket — a spinner's paradise. After a late start the Irish were put in and applied themselves well so that they were able to declare at 242 for seven, an hour before the close. Debutant Deryck Vincent and Mark Cohen batted sensibly and stylishly to add 76 for the first wicket before the left handed Vincent, who had played some magnificent drives and pulls in his 36, became the first of off-spinner Van Rensberg's four victims. Cohen went on to complete a valuable half-century and John Prior, with good support from Garfield Harrison, slammed a rapid and spectacular 75 as the pair added a further 90 runs in just over an hour.

Deryck Vincent batting in his Ireland debut against Matabeleleand at Bulawayo Athletic ClubDeryck Vincent batting in his Ireland debut against Matabeleleand at Bulawayo Athletic Club

Before long Halliday introduced himself and McBrine into the attack and with immediate success on a wicket that was now taking considerable spin. By the close they had reduced Matabeleland to 57 for three as they removed three batsmen in the space of four runs.

The second day was played in hot sunshine and in a little over an hour Halliday and McBrine tore apart the rest of the batting order and dismissed the home side for a paltry 99, Halliday finishing with six victims and McBrine claiming the other four.

Asked to follow on, Matabeleland showed more application as they tried to occupy the crease for six hours and avert defeat. Although Queri, Martin and Viljoen all made significant contributions against an Irish attack which naturally wilted in the arduous conditions and Wayne James made a most impressive 59 not out, the home side produced another collapse as they fell from a comfortable 177 for four to 218 all out. Again the two slow men did most damage with Halliday adding five more scalps to give himself match figures of 11 for 106, and McBrine taking his match tally to seven. Needing only 76 to win, Masood and Warke did so quite comfortably with Masood blasting a half-century from 45 balls.

After a rest day the action moved forty miles north of Bulawayo to Turk Mine. The first day's play belonged to Jim Patterson as he bowled Ireland into a match-winning position. He found the breeze and pitch exactly to his liking as he tore through the Matabeleland Districts' batting order, capturing six wickets for just 27, as the home side were shot out for 85. At the other end Hugh Milling provided the early breakthrough to finish with three for 21.

A wicket for Hugh Milling against Matableleland Districts at Turk MineA wicket for Hugh Milling against Matableleland Districts at Turk Mine

Ireland began badly with Masood and Warke soon departed. Two more wickets, those of Cohen and Vincent, soon fell cheaply to Denis Streak before the lower middle order set about restoring matters. Dennison proved to be the steadying influence while John Prior scored an attractive 36, and then Robin Haire marked his first Irish appearance by playing best of all and top scoring with 45. Half an hour before the close the innings ended with the Irish 88 runs ahead. Patterson then added further misery to the Districts' day when two inswinging yorkers accounted for McKenzie and Versveld to leave the hosts six for two at stumps.

The next day was one of the hottest of the tour but the Irish ensured they did not have to spend too long labouring in the sun as they quickly set about removing their opponents. Although Stylianou and Radloff (47) held up the proceedings for a while, Milling was just too quick for most of the batsmen and snapped up four wickets. McDevitt wrapped up the innings to leave Ireland needing a mere 40 runs to win.

Masood and Warke again wasted no time over the formality of completing the victory, requiring just over nine overs to pass their target and leave the tourists with an unexpected afternoon of relaxation before flying back to Harare.

A 9.30 a.m. start gave the team little chance to recover from the previous evening's travel — and anybody who expected the Zimbabwe Schools XI to be a pushover soon got a rude awakening. The selectors' task had become one of ascertaining the fittest eleven players to send out on to the field. The use of twelfth men (and even thirteenth men) when Ireland was fielding was by now reaching epidemic proportions.

Having been put into bat the Irish were soon in trouble on a pacey wicket and against a very lively and bouncy bowler in the well-built Angus MacKay. At 8 for two matters were potentially most embarrassing.

However, Mark Cohen again came to the rescue, this time with the aid of Alan Lewis. Together they added 96 runs and scored contrasting half-centuries. Whereas Cohen's innings was once again a study in concentration, Lewis' knock was full of glorious cover drives. After Lewis was dismissed, John Prior and Robin Haire both made bright contributions as the Irish reached 206 for seven in their sixty overs.

A land of great beauty - flying into Victoria FallsA land of great beauty - flying into Victoria Falls

The early Schools batting found the pace of Milling quite a handful and only Bruk-Jackson looked in any way comfortable. The first dismissal resulted from a quite breathtaking catch at short leg by Prior. When Halliday and McBrine came on the scoring rate ground almost to a standstill, causing Kirk and Flower to throw their wickets away in attempting suicidal singles.

The re-introduction of Milling saw Penney edge him to Dennison so that, in the 38th over, the total was just 80 for 6. But then instead of trying to finish off their demoralised young opponents the Irish fell back on the defensive and the tail-enders took full advantage to the extent that the Schools were able to reach 176 for 9 by the time their overs ran out.

After a rest day it was off to the tobacco farming area of Norton, 30 miles west of the capital. Unfortunately thunderstorms were to spoil the two day match and rule out the possibility of a positive result. Mashonaland Districts' skipper, Rory Ervine, won the toss and the Irish were given strike on a wicket which turned out to be placid throughout the two days. Warke went cheaply and although Masood appeared to be finding his form at last, when the score had reached 33 he became the first of wicketkeeper Langlois' four victims. Cohen once more proved to be the most reliable batsman — a brisk 57 run partnership with the belligerent McBrine saw Cohen reach his third half-century in four innings and Ireland attain a position of some respectability. McBrine's hard hit 45 provided the spectators with some entertainment at the end of an otherwise dour batting performance against a very tight attack.

Mashonaland Districts set attacking fields throughout the match at NortonMashonaland Districts set attacking fields throughout the match at Norton

Declaring at 201 for seven, Ireland soon had the home side in all sorts of difficulties as they claimed four wickets for 83 by the close. On the restart the Mashonaland batting proved much more resolute — although Staunton gave a very difficult chance to second slip, he and Ervine batted with a sensible mixture of aggression and watchfulness to help take the score to 165 for four, whereupon Ervine declared in an attempt to produce a result. If he expected his declaration to challenge the Irish to respond positively, he was to be disappointed. The intervention of the weather and the reluctance of the Irish to go for quick runs conspired to ensure that a challenging target would not be set.

Warke took the opportunity to find his touch and made his way to fifty in between the showers, while Prior played a little cameo of 37 in just a few overs at the crease. Cohen again scored a half-century and won himself the Man of the Match award.

A blazing hot sun welcomed the party to the picturesque Wedza ground. Country Districts batted first and were soon struggling against Milling who was more impressive each time he bowled. However, although he came in when his side had slumped to 25 for three, Zimbabwe all-rounder Ian Butchart gradually moved into all-out attack. Only Halliday was able to restrain him. When Butchart departed at 164 the Irish immediately got back on top but some late hitting from the tail allowed the Districts to reach 226. John McDevitt was the most successful bowler as he cleared up the lower half of the order to finish with five for 51.

Attacking play from Stephen Warke at WedzaAttacking play from Stephen Warke at Wedza<

Another typical Irish start saw Cohen and Masood both fall early and, equally typically, the third wicket partnership (this time of Lewis and Warke) began to rescue the situation. Both dealt easily with some quick but short bowling and went to tea at 87 for 2 with Warke again showing what a fine driver of the ball he can be.

The introduction of off-spinner Staunton and left-armer Dolphin saw the Irish batsmen all at sea. Frustration gradually took over — Lewis swept straight into the hands of deep square leg, Warke holed out off Dolphin, Prior was bowled for 20 and the remainder were unable to come to grips with some excellent slow bowling to the extent that the innings closed 85 runs short with 8 overs still remaining.

The next day was Day 1 of the 'Graeme Hick Show'. A scintillating and undefeated 155 by the young star took the Stragglers invitation side to a cruising eight wickets win in a 50 over game at the Harare Country Club. On the first of three successive days in which the Irish were to see a lot of the 19-year old batsman, Hick blasted 9 sixes and 13 fours in his innings of just 114 balls and left the Irish, who had been delighted earlier with their own total of 226, wondering just what had hit them.

On an even hotter day the openers had departed for the shade of the pavilion in the same over and with just 12 on the board. A typically gritty knock of 32 by Vincent and a fluent 29 from John Prior then provided the major supporting roles as David Dennison became the first player to score a century for Ireland in a limited overs match. His 103 was a masterpiece of application and concentration — but for his great effort a score of 150 would surely have been Ireland's lot. Lewis again looked in good form, hitting a ball signalled as a wide through the covers for three, before he swept the left arm spinner straight to deep square leg.

Stragglers were immediately in trouble when they batted, losing Murphy for nought as he miscued a hook off Milling straight to Haire at mid on. This (unfortunately) brought Hick to the crease and with Tinker he added 149 for the second wicket before Tinker was caught behind by Dennison off Haliday. Zimbabwe skipper Dave Houghton joined his clubmate and together they added a whirlwind 80 runs to reach the target with 16 overs remaining. Spare a thought for Garfield Harrison — brought on to bowl off-spin his first three deliveries were all struck for six by Hick and the over cost 26 in all! Amidst the mayhem Robin Haire was the tightest of the bowlers but even he conceded 46 runs from 9 overs.

The 1986 tour party at Harare Sports ClubThe 1986 tour party at Harare Sports Club
(Back row) Mark Cohen, Paul Jackson, Jim Paterson, Hugh Milling, John Prior, John McDevitt, Alan Lewis, Robin Haire. (Front row) Junior McBrine, Garfield Harrison, David Dennison, Michael Halliday, Stephen Warke, Alf Masood, Deryck Vincent.

The final, and most important, match of the tour was a three day game against a Zimbabwe Cricket Union XI which included six members of the national side. For this game the Harare Sports Club ground was prepared most beautifully, the equal of any ground anywhere.

What was a very disappointing performance from the Irish saw them slump to defeat by an innings and 67 runs. The batting lacked the application necessary for three-day cricket and the bowling lacked penetration. However, the essential difference between the two sides was one batsman — Graeme Hick. His innings of 309 broke all sorts of records — the highest score by a Zimbabwe batsman; the highest innings ever played in Zimbabwe; the highest score against Ireland.

Put into bat by Houghton, the Irish lost Warke and Cohen cheaply with only 27 on the board. Then Dennison joined Masood and the two of them went along very comfortably with Masood playing the dominant role. He had just reached his fifty when he hit the first ball sent down by slow left-armer Cox gently to mid-on. Vincent and Dennison immediately took command of the bowling so that lunch was reached after two hours with the score at 130 for three. A total of 300 then seemed well within reach.

However, the lunch break caused a swing in fortunes — Vincent fell immediately, Patterson never got off the mark, and then Dennison fell to a bat-pad catch off Hick's off spin when just 16 short of his second consecutive century. An outstanding effort but one which resulted in him suffering from heat exhaustion (he had batted on both days without a sun hat) and taking no further part in the game. McBrine then belted a quick 30 not out before the innings closed before tea for 211.

By the end of the day Hick had reached 112 as he drove, glanced, cut and pulled through the gaps almost at will, and the ZCU XI had reached 189 for four. Waller and Wallace gave him useful support as he led the home side out of trouble after three wickets had fallen for 32 — Patterson having taken a stunning return catch to dismiss Shah.

The next day Hick went on and on, although the Irish bowlers deserved great credit for sticking to their task in the heat and against a player in such form. After seven hours at the wicket Hick was finally dismissed by a John Prior catch — ironically, the same fielder had dropped a comparatively straightforward chance when Hick had scored just 17! His final tally included 2 sixes and 34 fours, and enabled the Zimbabweans to declare at 517 for nine, a lead of 306. Amazingly Jackson had let no byes past him in this massive score, and there were just 10 maiden overs — both probably good indications of how infrequently the ball got past the bat.

Ireland's only hope was to bat out the remaining seven hours, a daunting task, especially with Dennison ill. Warke was caught behind for 14 which brought in Halliday as night watchman and he survived to the close. He was able to stand in amazement and watch Masood set about the bowling — the last three balls of the day were all struck to the boundary.

Jim Patterson hits a six over the pavilion at Harare Sports ClubJim Patterson hits a six over the pavilion at Harare Sports Club

The final day began at 60 for one (Masood 43) — Halliday, obdurate as ever, stayed for an hour before being caught at short leg, while Masood continued in the same vein as the previous evening. But at 110, and with less than four hours to go, Masood (on 81) rashly skied the ball to deep mid-off where Houghton took a brilliant running catch. Further disasters followed at 111 when Cohen was trapped leg before by Shah and Prior completed an unhappy match by being caught without scoring. At 145 Vincent was bowled playing back to Cox, but Patterson and McBrine negotiated the period to tea without any apparent difficulty and played some exciting shots in the process.

At 226, the beginning of the end came when McBrine holed out to cover for 36, and 13 runs later Patterson was caught off the back of the bat trying to evade a bouncer that did not bounce. He had at last showed his true form with a glorious 67 in better than even time, including a six into the HSC swimming pool. When Milling duly completed a pair the Irish were still 67 runs short of making their opponents bat again and failed by an hour to struggle to a draw.

The player of the tour was undoubtedly David Dennison. His last two innings were quite outstanding but his batting throughout showed more application and looked so more solid than any of the others — moreover, he was called upon to keep wicket on five occasions and never kept less than excellently.

One criticism that was directed at the batsmen is that too often they gave their wickets away in their over-anxiety to get at the bowling — what Dermot Monteith described as 'trying to bat like millionaires'.

In the early games the bowlers did an exceptionally good job — Hugh Milling impressed with his pace and willingness to accept a big workload and improved all the time. The slow bowlers did not play as big a part as was expected before the tour but Michael Halliday turned in some impressive performances, particularly in the limited-over matches where he was a model of economy. Inability to extract much turn reduced the effectiveness of the two slow left armers. Junior McBrine and Robin Haire. Nonetheless, McBrine's control brought him a good haul of wickets, and both he and Haire showed useful form with the bat.

However when the harder matches came along, the bowling generally lacked real penetration — this was attributed to the influence of overs cricket and its encouragement of negative bowling.

So everybody returned with many pleasant memories of the Victoria Falls, of long hot and sunny days on beautiful cricket grounds, of warm evenings with plenty of wine, song and friendship with our hosts, of hotels, where the quality and service were second to none, and of the colour and excitement of Zimbabwe.