MATTHEW HUMPHREYS struck three times on a rain shortened fourth day in Bulawayo to leave Ireland just three wickets away from victory as Zimbabwe reached stumps on 183-7 in the one-off Test match.

After Barry McCarthy had knocked over the home side’s nightwatchman and showers had forced a lengthy delay, left-arm spinner Humphreys dominated the final session adding three scalps to the wicket he picked up on the third evening.

Wessly Madhevere, who survived a sharp chance to second slip on 15, survived to stumps on 61 not out, but with only the Zimbabwe tail for support and another 109 runs still required for an unlikely win, the odds are heavily in favour of Ireland.

With just a little assistance from the pitch, Humphreys had Brian Bennett caught at the wicket, held a fierce return catch from home skipper Johnathan Campbell and struck again when Paul Stirling got his fingers under a low chance at slip.

The 22-year-old who plays his club cricket for Lisburn, near Belfast, already has 4-41 and will be hungry for a first five-fer in his third Test today if the weather holds. 

Plan B for skipper Andy Balbirnie is that the second new ball is only 12 overs away.

Meanwhile, McCarthy has explained the on-field exchange with Ben Curran on Saturday night that led to the opener’s downfall.

“I saw him playing one outside off stump and reminded him it was similar to how I got him in the first innings,” the big fast bowler said. 

“Next ball I nicked him off again.”

Ireland were indebted to patient half centuries from Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker on Saturday for their second innings total of 298 that should be enough to ensure a third successive Test win.