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Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 2nd Test Match Summary

ZIM vs NZ, 2025 - Test Summary

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Scorecard
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Match Ended   
125&117 (28.1)
601/3d
New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs
ZIM 125/10
Bat Top Batsmen
44 (107)
  • 6x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 41.12SR
33 (54)
  • 4x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 61.11SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
Bowler
ECON 2.66
15
OVERS
40/5
R/W
Bowler
ECON 2.37
16
OVERS
38/4
R/W
NZ 601/3
Bat Top Batsmen
165 (139)
  • 21x4s
  • 2x6s
  • 118.70SR
153 (245)
  • 18x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 62.44SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
24
OVERS
101/1
R/W
Bowler
ECON 5.47
19
OVERS
104/1
R/W
ZIM 117/10
Bat Top Batsmen
47 (71)
  • 7x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 66.19SR
17 (31)
  • 2x4s
  • 0x6s
  • 54.83SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
Bowler
ECON 4.11
9
OVERS
37/5
R/W
Bowler
ECON 2.28
7
OVERS
16/2
R/W
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Right. This wraps up the two-match Test series. Zimbabwe's home season continues, but they will be away from the whites for quite a while now. They will now welcome Sri Lanka for a white-ball series, which will commence with 2 ODIs from Friday, 29th August, and will also include a 3-match T20I series after that. Meanwhile, New Zealand will enjoy a long break from cricketing action as they will welcome Australia all the way down in October for 3 T20Is. But cricketing action doesn't stop. Several other international fixtures are coming up, one prominent being South Africa's tour to Australia, and of course, with the franchise cricket in different corners currently going on. But from this matchcenter, we sign off. Take care, cheers!
The Kiwi skipper, Mitchell Santner, is requested to receive the trophy from one of the dignitaries. He accepts it with a smile and makes his way toward his teammates, who are already gathered behind the winner’s board, waiting for their captain to join them for the celebratory photographs. It's been a job well done by the visiting New Zealand team in both Tests where they displayed their standards in both departments, with several players stepping and contributing for the side. They won the first Test handsomely and responded ever more strongly in the final game to make the scoreline 2-0. For Zimbabwe, this campaign wasn’t just about chasing wins, it was about laying foundations and getting the basics right. For the younger players, it was a chance to step into the deep end, to test their temperament and learn what it takes to compete at the highest level against top-quality opposition. Because in any sport, you win and you evolve!
The victorious captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner, is the next one to have a quick chat. Reflects that it was a good game for them as a team. Says after losing the toss, and with the pitch not having much bite in it, they bowled impressively. Appreciates the way Matt Henry operated with the new ball. Shares that they talked about keeping their standards up, to bowl in the right areas, and not letting batters score freely. On the three debutants, Santner says it is never really easy playing your first game overseas, but they settled in beautifully.
New Zealand's Matt Henry is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for picking 16 wickets in the series. Says that it has been a great series and a great way to sign off. Shares that, as a group, they have put a lot of emphasis on using the new ball well. Mentions that planning is important, and with the skill sets they have, they complement each other nicely and become a real threat from both ends. States that the way the guys have been coming in and backing their skills has been awesome to see.
Devon Conway of New Zealand is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his outstanding knock of 153. He collects the award and walks up for a chat. He begins by saying it was a bit challenging to play in these conditions, but credits the bowlers, as they made it difficult with the new ball. Points that once the ball got older, things became a bit easier to bat and score runs. Highlights that the surface is a bit different from what it was in the first Test. Reflects that for them as a group, the talk was always about being positive and putting pressure back on the opposition bowlers. On the partnership between Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra, he says Rachin came out with a positive intent and aggression. Also says the way he and Henry Nicholls carried the innings forward was outstanding.
The captain of Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine, says that he is disappointed with the way they finished against a tough and highly skilled opposition. Feels that it is also a reflection of where they are as a team right now. Still feels it was the right decision to bat first, but New Zealand exploited the conditions far better than his side managed to. Mentions that this wicket definitely played better than in the first Test, though it was a bit two-paced at times. Reckons that there is still a lot of work to do, and they must continue striving to close the gap between themselves and the top sides. Adds that the players mustn’t get too disappointed as they are still a young team. Shares that everyone’s work ethic has been outstanding. Praises Tafadzwa Tsiga by saying that he was excellent with the gloves, keeping the energy high, and he works extremely hard on his batting as well.
... THE PRESENTATION ...
With a towering lead of 476, New Zealand declared overnight and sent Zimbabwe back in, only to see the Chevrons unravel once more. Brian Bennett fell in the opening over to the ever-threatening Matt Henry, and Jacob Duffy marked his maiden Test wicket by removing Sean Williams. With his early exit, Zimbabwe were left tottering at 24/3. Though Craig Ervine and Nick Welch offered brief resistance, the bowlers didn't leave the line of the stumps and kept probing. Sooner, Matthew Fisher broke through to end that 25-run stand. From there, it was just a matter of time as the collapse accelerated as Sikandar Raza and Tafadzwa Tsiga departed in quick succession. Zakary Foulkes, on debut, delivered a searing spell with the ball, claiming five wickets and dismantling the middle and lower order with relentless precision to hand Zimbabwe a defeat by an innings and 359 runs.
New Zealand further tightened their grip on Day 2 as Devon Conway eased to a century, calmly negotiating Zimbabwe’s frontline attack. He stitched together solid stands, first with the enterprising Duffy, then with the composed Henry Nicholls. Spin was introduced in tandem but proved largely ineffective. Masekesa eventually prised out Duffy, yet Conway and Nicholls shrugged off the setback and kept the scoreboard ticking. In came Rachin Ravindra and batted with a positive intent from the first ball. Risk-free shot selection and proactive strike rotation were the key highlights of his inning. As the day drew to a close, New Zealand had mounted a mammoth lead of 476 runs, on the back of three 150-plus scores from Conway, Nicholls, and Ravindra. This completely tired out and exhausted the Zimbabwean bowlers, who proved highly ineffective in preventing the run flow and picking wickets in clusters.
Craig Ervine opted to bat first on a surface with minimal grass, but the decision backfired as Zimbabwe were bundled out for just 125 inside 50 overs. The lone bright spots were Brendan Taylor, returning in the whites with a fluent 44, and Tafadzwa Tsiga, who offered some middle-order resistance with 33. Beyond them, the lineup faltered, failing to build partnerships or even cross 20 runs individually. New Zealand’s bowlers capitalized brilliantly, with debutant Zakary Foulkes claiming four key wickets and Matt Henry stealing the show with his second five-wicket haul of the series. The Kiwi openers then piled on the pressure, both registering fifties and erasing the deficit before stumps, giving New Zealand a strong platform and a 49-run lead at a loss of a wicket at the close of Day 1.
As clinical as it can get. Seven sessions. We repeat, it just took seven sessions for New Zealand to wipe Zimbabwe out of the game. In any Test match, it's more important how you start the first innings with the bat. And in all fairness, 125 always looked too less of a score against a quality batting unit like New Zealand, that too, on a pitch where runs were written in bold and capital. New Zealand batted for 130 overs and made sure they didn't bat again whereas Zimbabwe batted for almost half of the overs, combining both innings, and couldn't even cross the 150-run mark once. This is Zimbabwe's heaviest defeat in Test cricket history, and for the Kiwis, this marks their biggest win in the longest format in terms of runs.
Over 28.1 : 117/10
0 Runs
  • W 28.1
T. Chivanga
0 (4)
N. Welch
47 (71)
J. Duffy
7.1-2-28-2
28.1
W
Jacob Duffy To Tanaka Chivanga OUT!
OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Duffy's foot is behind the line this time and it is all over for Zimbabwe! Bowls it on a good length, around the off stump, Tanaka jabs at the ball with hard hands as he looks to go back past the bowler. Gets an outside edge that goes quickly to gully. Devon Conway gets both hands over his head and takes a sharp catch at gully. Zimbabwe have been bowled out for 117. New Zealand win by an innings and 359 runs!
Over 28 : 117/9
12 Runs
  • 027.1
  • 027.2
  • 027.3
  • 427.4
  • 427.5
  • 427.6
N. Welch
47 (71)
T. Chivanga
0 (3)
Z. Foulkes
9-2-37-5
27.6
4
Zakary Foulkes To Nick Welch
FOUR! Make that three in a row for Nick Welch! Foulkes bowls a slower one, lands it on a length, around off. Nick Welch picks the slower one, and he gets on one knee to sweep that across in the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket.
27.5
4
Zakary Foulkes To Nick Welch
FOUR! Agricultural! On a length, outside the off stump, Welch walks down the track and across his stumps. Nick has a hack across the line and drags it off the inner half to the left of the diving mid-wicket fielder for a boundary.
27.4
4
Zakary Foulkes To Nick Welch
FOUR! Straight over the bowler's head! Keeps it on a full length, in the hitting arc of Nick Welch, at the stumps, as he swats that away uppishly with the full face of the blade to long on fence. The ball drops just inside the boundary rope for four runs.
27.3
0
Zakary Foulkes To Nick Welch
Around the off stump, on a good length, Welch gets closer to the line and blocks it out.
27.2
0
Zakary Foulkes To Nick Welch
Errs in the line this time! Bowls it short, sprays down leg, Nick Welch shuffles across and shapes to pull that away, but changes his mind in the end and leaves.
27.1
0
Zakary Foulkes To Nick Welch
Full and outside off, Nick Welch lets it go.
Over 27 : 105/9
7 Runs
  • 026.1
  • 026.2
  • 426.3
  • 1 WD 26.4
  • 126.4
  • 026.5
  • 1 NB 26.6
  • 026.6
T. Chivanga
0 (3)
N. Welch
35 (65)
J. Duffy
7-2-28-1
26.6
0
Jacob Duffy To Tanaka Chivanga
Bowls it on a length, outside off, Tanaka Chivanga lets it go past.
Scratch the wicket for a moment, folks. The players even shook their hands, but since it is a No Ball, we hit the reset button again.
26.6
nb
Jacob Duffy To Tanaka Chivanga
Taken at short leg and that's that for Zimbabwe! Or is it? The front foot is being checked. The celebrations will have to wait as Jacob Duffy has overstepped. NO BALL given. Angled into the right-hander, on middle and leg, on a length, Tanaka gets forward for the block but the ball kicks up a bit and nips back to rap him on the glove. It deflects off the glove and goes straight into the waiting hands of the man at short leg.
26.5
0
Jacob Duffy To Tanaka Chivanga
At the stumps, on the fuller side, Tanaka Chivanga blocks it out.
26.4
1
Jacob Duffy To Nick Welch
On a length, on off, Welch backs away to go big on the off side. Slices it across to the left of cover for a single.
26.4
wd
Jacob Duffy To Nick Welch
Wide! Bangs it too short and wide down the leg side, Nick Welch does not bother to play that, and Tom Blundell does well behind the stumps to get a hand on it. A bye is taken, as the ball rolls past behind him.
26.3
4
Jacob Duffy To Nick Welch
FOUR! Punished! Short and wide on off, Nick Welch stands tall and cracks it to the left of deep point for a single. This brings up the 100 for Zimbabwe!
26.2
0
Jacob Duffy To Nick Welch
Bowls it on a good length, outside off, Nick Welch looks to heave that away on the leg side, but fails to make any connection. Tom Blundell gets a hand on it with a dive to his left.
26.1
0
Jacob Duffy To Nick Welch
On a good length, on off, Welch taps it down on the off side.
Tanaka Chivanga is the last man in for Zimbabwe. And now, this session has been extended until the final wicket falls.
Over 26 : 98/9
9 Runs
  • 025.1
  • 125.2
  • 025.3
  • 625.4
  • 225.5
  • W 25.6
B. Muzarabani
8 (11)
N. Welch
30 (61)
Z. Foulkes
8-2-25-5
25.6
W
Zakary Foulkes To Blessing Muzarabani OUT!
OUT! CAUGHT! Five wickets for Zakary Foulkes on Test debut! Foulkes goes into the surface, over middle, Blessing clears his front leg and tries to take on the short ball. The ball gets big on him and a top edge is found. It gets skied towards deep square leg where Mitchell Santner runs to his left and takes a safe catch. Foulkes has 9 wickets in the game and these are now the best figures for a debutant from New Zealand on Test debut.
25.5
2
Zakary Foulkes To Blessing Muzarabani
High but not long enough! On a length, on middle, Blessing clears his front leg and swings for the hills. Gets height but not the distance and it lands in front of the fence in the mid-wicket region. Two runs taken.
28 OV
12 Runs
Z. Foulkes to N. Welch
  • 027.1
  • 027.2
  • 027.3
  • 427.4
  • 427.5
  • 427.6
27 OV
7 Runs
J. Duffy to N. Welch T. Chivanga
  • 026.1
  • 026.2
  • 426.3
  • 1 WD 26.4
  • 126.4
  • 026.5
  • 1 NB 26.6
  • 026.6
26 OV
9 Runs
Z. Foulkes to N. Welch B. Muzarabani
  • 025.1
  • 125.2
  • 025.3
  • 625.4
  • 225.5
  • W 25.6
25 OV
3 Runs
J. Duffy to N. Welch B. Muzarabani
  • 224.1
  • 1 LB 24.2
  • 024.3
  • 024.4
  • 024.5
  • 024.6
24 OV
0 Runs
Z. Foulkes to T. Gwandu B. Muzarabani
  • 023.1
  • 023.2
  • W 23.3
  • 023.4
  • 023.5
  • 023.6
23 OV
8 Runs
M. Fisher to N. Welch
  • 022.1
  • 4 LB 22.2
  • 022.3
  • 022.4
  • 022.5
  • 422.6
22 OV
1 Runs
Z. Foulkes to N. Welch V. Masekesa T. Gwandu
  • 021.1
  • 021.2
  • 121.3
  • 021.4
  • W 21.5
  • 021.6
21 OV
5 Runs
M. Fisher to N. Welch V. Masekesa
  • 120.1
  • 020.2
  • 020.3
  • 020.4
  • 420.5
  • 020.6
20 OV
5 Runs
Z. Foulkes to N. Welch V. Masekesa
  • 1 LB 19.1
  • 4 B 19.2
  • 019.3
  • 019.4
  • 019.5
  • 019.6
19 OV
3 Runs
M. Fisher to N. Welch V. Masekesa
  • 218.1
  • 018.2
  • 018.3
  • 018.4
  • 1 LB 18.5
  • 018.6
18 OV
4 Runs
Z. Foulkes to T. Tsiga V. Masekesa
  • 017.1
  • 417.2
  • 017.3
  • 017.4
  • W 17.5
  • 017.6
17 OV
6 Runs
M. Fisher to N. Welch T. Tsiga
  • 116.1
  • 016.2
  • 016.3
  • 116.4
  • 216.5
  • 2 LB 16.6
16 OV
1 Runs
Z. Foulkes to N. Welch S. Raza T. Tsiga
  • 115.1
  • W 15.2
  • 015.3
  • 015.4
  • 015.5
  • 015.6
15 OV
7 Runs
M. Fisher to N. Welch C. Ervine S. Raza
  • 014.1
  • 014.2
  • 014.3
  • 314.4
  • W 14.5
  • 414.6
14 OV
4 Runs
Z. Foulkes to C. Ervine
  • 013.1
  • 413.2
  • 013.3
  • 013.4
  • 013.5
  • 013.6
13 OV
2 Runs
M. Henry to N. Welch C. Ervine
  • 012.1
  • 112.2
  • 012.3
  • 112.4
  • 012.5
  • 012.6
12 OV
6 Runs
Z. Foulkes to C. Ervine N. Welch
  • 111.1
  • 111.2
  • 011.3
  • 011.4
  • 411.5
  • 011.6
11 OV
5 Runs
M. Henry to C. Ervine N. Welch
  • 010.1
  • 010.2
  • 210.3
  • 110.4
  • 010.5
  • 210.6
10 OV
0 Runs
J. Duffy to N. Welch
  • 09.1
  • 09.2
  • 09.3
  • 09.4
  • 09.5
  • 09.6
9 OV
0 Runs
M. Henry to C. Ervine
  • 08.1
  • 08.2
  • 08.3
  • 08.4
  • 08.5
  • 08.6
8 OV
0 Runs
J. Duffy to N. Welch
  • 07.1
  • 07.2
  • 07.3
  • 07.4
  • 07.5
  • 07.6
7 OV
4 Runs
M. Henry to C. Ervine
  • 06.1
  • 06.2
  • 26.3
  • 06.4
  • 06.5
  • 26.6
6 OV
9 Runs
J. Duffy to S. Williams C. Ervine
  • 45.1
  • 05.2
  • 45.3
  • 05.4
  • W 5.5
  • 1 LB 5.6
5 OV
5 Runs
M. Henry to B. Taylor S. Williams N. Welch
  • W 4.1
  • 14.2
  • 04.3
  • 04.4
  • 04.5
  • 44.6
4 OV
7 Runs
J. Duffy to B. Taylor N. Welch
  • 23.1
  • 03.2
  • 03.3
  • 03.4
  • 13.5
  • 43.6
3 OV
0 Runs
M. Henry to N. Welch
  • 02.1
  • 02.2
  • 02.3
  • 02.4
  • 02.5
  • 02.6
2 OV
4 Runs
J. Duffy to B. Taylor
  • 01.1
  • 01.2
  • 01.3
  • 41.4
  • 01.5
  • 01.6
1 OV
0 Runs
M. Henry to B. Bennett N. Welch
  • 00.1
  • 00.2
  • W 0.3
  • 00.4
  • 00.5
  • 00.6
Match Info
  • Venue Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
  • Weather Sunny
  • Toss Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat
  • Result New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs
  • Player of the Match Devon Conway
  • Player of the Series Matt Henry
  • Umpire Alex Wharf (ENG), Asif Yaqoob (PAK) and Iknow Chabi (ZIM)
  • Referee Ranjan Madugalle (SL)
Match Notes
  • Stumps: New Zealand 174/1 in 39.0 overs
  • 1st wkt Partnership: 150 off 195 balls between D Conway (71) and W Young (68)
  • New Zealand 150/0 in 32.0 overs
  • D Conway Test fifty: 50 runs in 81 balls (6x4) (0x6)
  • Drinks: New Zealand 115/0 24.0 overs
  • W Young dropped on 53 by S Raza in 18.3 overs
  • Drinks: New Zealand 76/0 in 12.0 overs
  • 1st wkt Partnership: 50 off 50 balls between D Conway (19) and W Young (29)
  • New Zealand 50/0 in 7.6 overs
  • Tea: Zimbabwe 125/10 in 48.5 overs
  • Innings Break: Zimbabwe 125/10 in 48.5 overs
  • Drinks: Zimbabwe 105/9 in 41.0 overs
  • Zimbabwe 100/8 in 39.2 overs
  • Lunch: Zimbabwe 67/4 in 28.1 overs
  • Zimbabwe 53/3 in 22.3 overs
  • Drinks: Zimbabwe 30/2 in 14.1 overs
  • N Welch dropped on 0 by W Young in 2.4 overs
  • Z Foulkes(NZ), M Fisher(NZ), J Duffy(NZ) make their TEST debut
  • Stumps: New Zealand 601/3 in 130.0 overs
  • New Zealand 600/3 in 128.5 overs
  • H Nicholls: 150 runs in 239 balls (15x4) (0x6)
  • 4th wkt Partnership: 253 off 276 balls between H Nicholls (85) and R Ravindra (163)
  • R Ravindra: 153 runs in 133 balls (20x4) (1x6)
  • New Zealand 551/3 in 125.0 overs
  • 4th wkt Partnership: 200 off 252 balls between H Nicholls (74) and R Ravindra (121)
  • R Ravindra 3rd Test hundred: 100 runs in 104 balls (13x4) (0x6)
  • Drinks: New Zealand 504/3 in 117.0 overs
  • 4th wkt Partnership: 150 off 195 balls between H Nicholls (52) and R Ravindra (93)
  • H Nicholls 10th Test hundred: 102 runs in 166 balls (11x4) (0x6)
  • New Zealand 451/3 in 104.3 overs
  • 4th wkt Partnership: 100 off 129 balls between H Nicholls (35) and R Ravindra (60)
  • Tea: New Zealand 427/4 in 99.0 overs
  • R Ravindra Test fifty: 51 runs in 48 balls (10x4) (0x6)
  • New Zealand 400/3 in 92.5 overs
  • 4th wkt Partnership: 50 off 60 balls between H Nicholls (16) and R Ravindra (34)
  • Drinks: New Zealand 362/3 in 86.0 overs
  • New Zealand 351/3 in 83.5 overs
  • New ball taken: New Zealand 339/2 in 80.1 overs
  • D Conway: 151 runs in 238 balls (18x4) (0x6)
  • 3rd wkt Partnership: 102 off 164 balls between D Conway (39) and H Nicholls (63)
  • H Nicholls Test fifty: 50 runs in 76 balls (5x4) (0x6)
  • Lunch: New Zealand 306/2 in 71.0 overs
  • New Zealand 300/2 in 67.3 overs
  • 3rd wkt Partnership: 50 off 73 balls between D Conway (21) and H Nicholls (29)
  • New Zealand 253/2 in 58.2 overs
  • Drinks: New Zealand 235/2 in 52.2 overs
  • D Conway 5th Test hundred: 101 runs in 143 balls (13x4) (0x6)
  • 2nd wkt Partnership: 50 off 58 balls between D Conway (16) and J Duffy (32)
  • New Zealand 201/1 in 43.4 overs
  • Zimbabwe 102/9 in 26.3 overs
  • Z Foulkes Test 5-wicket haul: 5/15 (3.4)
  • Zimbabwe 53/4 in 14.6 overs
  • Drinks: Zimbabwe 42/3 in 13.0 overs
  • Innings Break: New Zealand 601/3d in 130.0 overs
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