New Zealand started their Test tour of Zimbabwe with an impressive nine wicket win at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. The match, held from July 30 to August 1, 2025, saw Matt Henry take centre stage with a brilliant nine wicket haul that destroyed Zimbabwe’s chances of putting up a fight.
Match Summary
- Match: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 1st Test
- Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- Dates: July 30 – August 1, 2025
- Toss: Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first
- Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets
- Player of the Match: Matt Henry for his brilliant performance, taking nine wickets in total.
Zimbabwe’s First Innings: Tough Start
Zimbabwe chose to bat first, but managed only 149 runs before being bowled out in 60.3 overs.
- Top scorer: Nick Welch (27 runs off 68 balls)
- Other key batters: Brian Bennett (6), Ben Curran (13), Sean Williams (21)
- Matt Henry: 4 wickets for 39 runs
- Nathan Smith: 3 wickets for 20 runs
Henry’s opening spell ripped through Zimbabwe’s top order, setting the tone early.
New Zealand’s Response: Solid Batting
New Zealand piled on 307 runs in 96.1 overs, stretching their first innings lead comfortably.
- Devon Conway stood firm at the crease, contributing a valuable 88.
- Daryl Mitchell smashed an aggressive 80 runs, keeping the scoreboard moving.
- Will Young played patiently for 41 runs, Henry Nicholls chipped in with 34.
- Muzarabani: Best Zimbabwe bowler, 3 for 73.
The visitors built a strong foundation and never let Zimbabwe back into the game.
Zimbabwe’s Second Innings: No Recovery
Facing a huge deficit, Zimbabwe were all out for 165 runs in 67.1 overs.
- Sean Williams added some resistance with a determined 49.
- Brian Bennett and Craig Ervine tried to hang on but Matt Henry and Santner didn’t give them any breathing room.
- Matt Henry: Another 5 wickets for 51 runs.
- Santner: 4 wickets for 62 runs.
Zimbabwe struggled against Henry’s control and Santner’s crafty spin.
Final Chase: Quick Finish
- Target: Just 8 runs.
- Devon Conway fell for 4, but Will Young and Henry Nicholls calmly finished it.
- New Zealand chased it down in just 2.2 overs, winning by 9 wickets.
Match Highlights: Key Takeaways
- Matt Henry: 9 wickets in the match (4 in the first innings, 5 in the second). He was unstoppable.
- Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell: Steady batting ensured New Zealand never lost control.
- Zimbabwe’s struggle: Even with Williams’s determined effort, their batting fell short on depth and stayed fragile under pressure.
- Santner’s spin: Cleaned up the lower order with disciplined bowling.
What’s Next for Both Teams
- New Zealand lead the two match series 1-0 and will aim to wrap it up with another dominant show.
- Zimbabwe will have to bounce back quickly and find answers to Henry and New Zealand’s seam attack.
- Zimbabwe will rely on experienced names like Sean Williams and Craig Ervine to lead a comeback.
Final Thoughts
🏆 Winning an away Test is always special. New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Matt Henry, proved too strong for Zimbabwe at home. With a calm batting line up and a sharp bowling attack, the Black Caps look set to complete the series on a high.
👀 Zimbabwe, meanwhile, must work on their batting to survive longer against quality seam and spin. The next Test will decide if they can level the series or if New Zealand will take it 2-0.
💬 Do you think Zimbabwe can bounce back? Or will New Zealand seal the series in style? Drop your thoughts below and stay tuned for more honest match reviews and updates!
