The visitors have taken a 1–0 lead in the two-Test series with a convincing 9-wicket victory in the first match.
Matt Henry, who tore through Zimbabwe’s batting on the first day, continued his excellent form in the second innings. Alongside him, Mitchell Santner and Will O’Rourke bowled brilliantly to set up the Kiwis for an innings win. While Zimbabwe’s Tafadzwa Tsiga and Blessing Muzarabani fought back late in the game to prevent an innings defeat, New Zealand still cruised to a comfortable win.
On Day 3 of the first Test in Bulawayo, Mitchell Santner’s team wrapped up a 9-wicket victory. That win gave New Zealand a 1–0 advantage in the two-match series.
After bowling Zimbabwe out for just 149 in the first innings, New Zealand posted 307 in reply. Zimbabwe couldn’t mount a comeback in their second innings either, folding for 165 after another batting collapse.
Chasing just 8 runs to win, New Zealand sealed the match in the third over of their second innings. They did lose a wicket early when Devon Conway was bowled by Nyauchi in the first over.
Matt Henry was the standout performer. He took 3 wickets in the second innings after claiming 6 in the first, finishing with 9 wickets in the match — his fourth time doing so in a Test. Unsurprisingly, he was named Player of the Match.
Mitchell Santner and Will O’Rourke, who went wicketless in the first innings, stepped up in the second, grabbing 4 and 3 wickets respectively.
Resuming Day 3 on 31 for 2, Zimbabwe lost Nick Welch early to Will O’Rourke, who had him caught behind. A few overs later, O’Rourke also dismissed nightwatchman Vincent Masikesa.
With the team in trouble at 53 for 4, experienced campaigners Sean Williams and Craig Ervine offered some resistance. Their 57-run stand helped Zimbabwe cross 100.
But then came a turning point. In the space of two overs, both set batters were dismissed. Williams fell for 49 to a brilliant leg-side catch by keeper Tom Blundell off Santner, while Ervine (22) edged Henry behind off a superb delivery.
Sikandar Raza and Nyauchi fell cheaply, putting Zimbabwe on the verge of an innings defeat. However, Tsiga and Muzarabani fought back with a gritty 36-run ninth-wicket stand that lasted 84 balls, helping their team narrowly surpass New Zealand’s first innings total.
Muzarabani scored 19 off 38 with three boundaries before Santner broke the partnership. Tsiga, who battled hard for his 27 from 83 balls, was also dismissed by the New Zealand captain, ending Zimbabwe’s innings.
The second and final Test of the series begins next Thursday at the same venue.
Brief Scores
- Zimbabwe 1st Innings: 149
- New Zealand 1st Innings: 307
- Zimbabwe 2nd Innings: 165 all out in 67.1 overs (Welch 4, Masikesa 2, Williams 49, Ervine 22, Raza 5, Tsiga 12, Nyauchi 1, Muzarabani 19; Henry 3/48, O’Rourke 3/28, Santner 2/21)
- New Zealand 2nd Innings (Target 8): 8/1 in 2.2 overs (Conway 4, Young 0, Nicholls 4*; Nyauchi 1.2–0–8–1)
Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets
Player of the Match: Matt Henry
