PJ Moor deployed ‘the immutable law of the ex’ in Belfast to make his highest score for Ireland and leave the one-off Test against his former Zimbabwe team-mates finely balanced at stumps on day two.

Moor hasn’t been prolific since swapping flags two years ago, with an aggregate of 88 in 10 Test innings, but a fluent 79, containing 11 fours, was the meat of Ireland’s total of 250 all out.

While the 33-year-old’s contribution got his adopted side close to Zimbabwe’s first innings of 210 it was a spirited last-wicket stand of 47 between Andy McBrine and Matthew Humphreys that gave Ireland a potentially vital lead of 40.

Last man Humphreys was a revelation, hitting the only six of the innings and four lusty fours in an unbeaten 27, while McBrine was last out for 28.

Zimbabwe survived four overs to close on 12-0, trailing by 28.

The ‘immutable law of the ex’ was coined by football journalist Brian Glanville to explain outstanding performances by players in their first game against former colleagues, and it certainly applied to Moor who represented Zimbabwe in eight Tests.

“It was very special,” Moor said. “An amazing experience. My dad flew in a few days ago and he was on my neck to score some runs. I’m glad he was here to see it.

“The rain at lunch and the covers on for 40 minutes definitely changed the pitch and made batting tougher. As the game’s progressed it’s spiced up a little bit.”

Ireland innings followed a similar pattern to Zimbabwe’s, with Moor and Andy Balbirnie providing a solid base of 71, passing Ed Joyce and William Porterfield’s previous Test opening partnership best of 69, and the remainder of the batting struggling.

After Balbirnie had clipped to mid-wicket on 19, Curtis Campher lasted 17 balls before edging into the cordon and Harry Tector was lbw to a full length ball immediately following a rain-extended lunch break.

Although the decision was correct, Tector can count himself unlucky because it’s rare to see a delivery heading past leg stump swing back late towards off.

Paul Stirling lobbed a brute of a ball to gully in the same over but the local man was reprieved by a no-ball and proceeded to add 50 with Moor, taking Ireland to 165-3 before the opener was caught behind by the hapless Clive Madande.

Poor Madande hasn’t enjoyed the happiest of debuts, having skied his first ball to mid-off on Thursday and then conceding 42 byes — a new world record for one innings of a Test.

Lorcan Tucker was lbw to a toe-crusher first ball and both Stirling, who made 22, and Mark Adair were guilty of loose shots as Ireland’s reply mirrored Zimbabwe’s.

At 203-9, a lead of any sort seemed unlikely, but McBrine and Humphreys had other ideas.