Seamer Blessing Muzarabani has taken career-best figures of 7-58 after ripping through Ireland's top-order and putting Zimbabwe well in control of their one-off Test in Bulawayo.

Ireland lost five wickets in the first hour as Muzarabani wrought havoc but they did at least rally to score 260 in their first innings on Thursday's opening day at Queens Sports Club.

In response, the hosts went to stumps in a fairly healthy position on 1-72.

Muzarabani had the visitors teetering on 5-31 before the fightback was led by Andy McBrine's unbeaten 90 and 78 for Mark Adair.

Zimbabwe will resume their innings on Friday with opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano on 26 and debutant Nick Welch on 33, with Ben Curran the only batter to be dismissed so far after he'd scored 12.

A family crisis meant Craig Ervine had to pull out of the Zimbabwe team before the start of the match, with debutant Johnathan Campbell handed the captaincy.