Cricket Ireland are expected to confirm next week that this summer’s Test match against Zimbabwe will go ahead, after scrapping plans to cut the Belfast showpiece to balance the books.

When news that the five-day game was under threat were leaked last month - only days after Ireland’s first win in the format - there was an outcry among players and supporters alike and it would appear that CI have listened to those voices.

The Test will be only the second to be staged in Ireland - the first was the inaugural match against Pakistan at Malahide in 2018 - and a first for Belfast, in the grounds of Stormont.

In more good news from the governing body, the vastly experienced South African former wicketkeeper Dave Richardson is to join the Cricket Ireland board.

Richardson was the first general manager of the International Cricket Council, that runs the world game, and became its CEO in 2012. The 64-year-old’s contacts and diplomacy skills should prove a massive boost to Ireland on the international stage.

Meanwhile, skipper Laura Delany hit the winning runs in her 200th appearance for Ireland as the Girls in Green romped to an eight-wicket victory in Dubai, after dismissing Thailand for 79 in the first of their warm-up matches for the T20 World Cup qualifier.