Tag: Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO: New Zealand completed a crushing win by an innings and 359 runs on the third day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club here on Saturday.

New Zealand pacer Zak Foulkes, playing in his first Test match, took five for 37 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 117 in their second innings.

Nic Welch, batting at number three, made an unbeaten 47 and stood virtually alone against the New Zealand pace attack.

Notably, it was the third-biggest win by an innings in Test history.

England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs at The Oval in London in 1938. Australia defeated South Africa by an innings and 360 runs in Johannesburg in 2001/02.

“We bowled well in the first innings after losing the toss,” said Mitch Santner, who captained New Zealand in both Tests in the absence of the injured Tom Latham.

“And the batters got through some tough periods with their partnerships and then cashed in.”

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The largest victory for New Zealand and the worst defeat for Zimbabwe occurred during the Napier Test in the 2011/12 season, where the Kiwis won by an innings and 301 runs.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe suffered their sixth successive defeat, four of them by an innings, since beating Bangladesh in Sylhet in April.

New Zealand declared their first innings closed on their overnight total of 601 for three.

It took only three balls for Matt Henry to start the home team’s collapse when he bowled Brian Bennett for his second duck of the match.

Henry had Brendan Taylor caught at second slip and Jacob Duffy caught Sean Williams off his own bowling before Matthew Fisher had Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine held at third slip.

Foulkes, who briefly returned to New Zealand after a triangular Twenty20 series but was recalled after Nathan Smith was injured in the first Test, took the next five wickets. Foulkes had match figures of nine for 77.

Devon Conway, who scored 153 for New Zealand, was the player of the match, while Henry, who took 16 wickets across the two matches, was the player of the series.

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Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, and Rachin Ravindra hit centuries as New Zealand produced a relentless batting performance on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Friday.

New Zealand were 601 for three at the close in reply to Zimbabwe’s first innings total of 125, a lead of 476 runs.

Conway scored 153, ending a 16-match streak without a Test century.

Henry Nicholls, playing in his first Test series since December 2023, made 150 not out, while Rachin Ravindra hammered an unbeaten 165 at better than a run a ball.

It was another day of one-sided cricket after the Black Caps resumed on 174 for one, already 49 runs ahead. It took Zimbabwe an hour to remove nightwatchman Jacob Duffy, who made 36.

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The rest of the day brought only one more wicket, that of Conway, who fell to the second new ball when he misjudged the bounce against Blessing Muzarabani and was bowled off his body.

Nicholls was on 64 when Ravindra joined him after Conway’s dismissal. Ravindra, a left-hander like the other two centurions, quickly went on the attack and by the close had overtaken his partner.

Ravindra reached his century off 104 balls. With stand-in captain Mitchell Santner opting not to declare despite having a significant lead, Ravindra went on the rampage towards the close, adding another 65 runs off just 35 balls.

Zimbabwe fast bowlers Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga, usually the team’s most effective bowlers, were both expensive against formidable New Zealand batting.

Muzarabani took one for 101 in 24 overs, while Chivanga went wicketless in conceding 94 runs off 17 overs.

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine used seven bowlers in a futile attempt to stop the flow of runs on a day in which New Zealand scored 427 runs for the loss of two wickets.

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BULAWAYO: Matt Henry brilliant spell, followed by a mammoth opening stand from Devon Conway and Will Young, put New Zealand in a commanding position against Zimbabwe.

New Zealand ended the day in a dominant position on the score of 162-1 with a 49-run lead in the second Test here at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 125 runs in only 48.5 overs with returning Brendon Taylor top scoring for 44 runs.

Taylor, making his first Test appearance since 2021, guided Zimbabwe’s batting until the 33rd over, finishing with a top score of 44 runs from 107 balls, including six boundaries.

After his dismissal, wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga took over, remaining not out with 33 runs off 54 balls, featuring four boundaries.

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Henry, who had already taken nine wickets in the first match of the series at the same venue, maintained his excellent form by securing five wickets for just 40 runs in 15 overs.

He was well-supported by fellow pacer Zakary Foulkes, who accounted for four wickets, while Matthew Fisher added one more.

In reply, New Zealand’s opening pair, Conway and Will Young, established a commanding partnership of 162 runs.

This partnership came to an end in the 35th over when Trevor Gwandu bowled Young, who scored 74 runs off 101 balls with 11 boundaries.

Meanwhile, Conway remained steadfast at the crease, forming an unbeaten 12-run partnership with nightwatchman Jacob Duffy as play concluded for the day.

Zakary Foulkes, who was making his debut, shared his thoughts after taking a four-wicket haul.

“It hasn’t really sunk in,” said Foulkes after taking four for 38 as New Zealand shot out Zimbabwe, who chose to bat after winning the toss, for 125. It was nice to spend a few days at home,” he said.

“Then I got on the big bird back here. I was very surprised to get the call. It was surreal to make my debut today,” Foulkes revealed.

It is noteworthy to mention that New Zealand comprehensively won the opening Test match against Zimbabwe by nine wickets at the same venue.

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New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry helped BlackCaps seal a nine-wicket win on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Friday.

Zimbabwe managed to avoid an innings defeat, but New Zealand needed only eight runs to win.

Devon Conway hit a four but then edged a ball from Newman Nyamhuri into his stumps before Henry Nicholls hit the winning boundary in Nyamhuri’s next over.

Santner took four for 27 as Zimbabwe, needing 158 to avoid an innings defeat, were bowled out for 165.

Zimbabwe resumed on 31 for two and quickly lost overnight batter Nick Welch and nightwatchman Vincent Masekesa to fast bowler Will O’Rourke.

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Veteran left-handers Sean Williams (49) and Craig Ervine (22) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 57 but were dismissed in successive overs by Santner and Matt Henry shortly before lunch.

Sikandar Raza and Newman Nyamburi fell soon after the interval, but wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (27) and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani (19) put on 36 for the ninth wicket before Santner dismissed both batters.

New Zealand were hampered by the absence of pace bowlers Nathan Smith, who suffered an abdominal injury while batting on Thursday, and O’Rourke, who was feeling stiffness after his morning spell.

The teams meet again in the second Test at the same venue from Thursday. The two-match series is not part of the World Test Championship.

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Matt Henry took a six-wicket haul to propel the Blackcaps into a dominant position on the opening day of the first New Zealand vs Zimbabwe Test at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.

Fast bowler Henry took six for 39 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 149 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

New Zealand were 92 for no wicket at the close, with Devon Conway and Will Young unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively.

Henry, who was voted the best player of a Twenty20 tri-series tournament that ended on Saturday, did not take long to adjust to red-ball cricket in New Zealand’s first Test since December last year.

Henry dismissed both Zimbabwe opening batters, Brian Bennett (6) and Ben Curran (13), inside the first seven overs.

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He took two more wickets in an over interrupted by the lunch break, then came back to finish off the innings with his final two victims shortly after tea.

Seamer Nathan Smith took three for 20 in 14 tight overs.

Captain Craig Ervine, who took 23 balls to score his first run, top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39, eked out over 116 deliveries.

Ervine and Nick Welch (27) put on 36 for the fourth wicket after Zimbabwe were reeling at 31 for three.

But Henry returned for the last over before lunch to have Welch caught at second slip. Three balls later, after lunch, he had the experienced Sikandar Raza caught behind for two.

Ervine and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) added 54 for the sixth wicket to lift Zimbabwe from 69 for five. Smith trapped both batsmen leg before wicket shortly before tea, and Zimbabwe’s resistance crumbled.

In reply, Conway and Young batted through to the close of play, scoring steadily after a cautious start.

Zimbabwe opening bowler Blessing Muzarabani had an opening spell of eight overs but was unable to make a breakthrough.

Conway reached his fifty in the penultimate over of the day, his first Test half-century since he made 76 against India in Pune last October. Seven innings since then had yielded a highest score of 22.

Since New Zealand’s last Test match against England in 2024, Zimbabwe has played eight Tests.

However, Zimbabwe has lost six, drawn one, and had a single victory, against Bangladesh in Sylhet in April.

The second New Zealand vs Zimbabwe Test will be played from 7 to 11 August at the same ground.

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New Zealand captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe starting at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday.

New Zealand white-ball captain Mitch Santner will lead the team in Latham’s absence.

According to a statement by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Tuesday, Latham injured a shoulder while fielding in a Twenty20 match in England earlier this month and has not fully recovered.

Tom Latham will remain with the squad in the hope of being fit for the second Test, which starts on August 7.

“It’s hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an integral part of the team,” head coach Rob Walter said.

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“It’s never great when you lose your captain, who’s a world-class opening batter and a great team man, but that said, we’re going to work really hard to have him available for the second Test.

“We’ll continue to assess and see whether a replacement player is necessary, but at this stage we are hopeful that he’ll recover in time.”

Left-arm spin bowler Santner will become New Zealand’s 32nd men’s Test captain. He led the white-ball team to victory in a T20 white-ball series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, which ended last Saturday.

“Mitch did a wonderful job with the T20 squad,” said Walter.

“He was excellent from a strategy point of view, and he has a strong understanding of the game.”

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Tim Seifert hit a second successive half-century and Ish Sodhi took four wickets as New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 60 runs.

The sixth match of the T20 tri-series between New Zealand Zimbabwe was in Harare on Thursday.

New Zealand won all four matches in the round robin phase of the Zimbabwe Tri Series They will play South Africa in the final at the same venue on Saturday.

Seifert hit 75 in a New Zealand total of 190 for six –the highest of the tournament– and Sodhi took a career-best four for 12 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 130.

Seifert and Rachin Ravindra (63) put on 108 for the second wicket to set up New Zealand for the highest total in the six round robin matches.

Zimbabwe scored 21 off the first two overs in reply before leg-spinner Sodhi came on to bowl in the third over. He struck with his second ball and took three wickets for five runs in two overs in the power play.

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Sodhi came back later to claim a fourth wicket and become the third player to take 150 wickets in T20 internationals on a list headed by fellow New Zealander Tim Southee with 164. It was his fifth and least expensive four-wicket haul in the format.

“It was nice to contribute in a slightly new role for me. I haven’t bowled a lot in powerplays in my career,” said Sodhi after being named player of the match.

“It was nice to put a score on the board batting first,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, who chose to bat on a pitch that has favoured teams batting second.

He said the number of players who had “put their hands up at different times” gave New Zealand a selection headache ahead of the final.

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Matt Henry took three wickets and Devon Conway hit an unbeaten half-century as New Zealand outclassed hosts Zimbabwe by eight wickets in their tri-series match at Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Zimbabwe made a promising start but could only score 120-7 after being sent in to bat in their 20 overs.

New Zealand needed only 13.5 overs to secure the win, with left-handed opening batter Conway making 59 not out off 40 balls.

New Zealand’s fast bowlers, led by Henry, made good use of short-pitched deliveries while left-arm spinners Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra gained bounce and turn from a dry pitch.

Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett put on 37 for the first wicket before Bennett (21) top-edged a short ball from Henry to square leg in the sixth over.

Madhevere took 11 runs off Henry’s first over but struggled for fluency in making 36 runs off 32 balls, while none of the batsmen were able to master New Zealand’s spin bowlers.

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“They came out quite aggressive in the power play, but we adapted well with the ball,” said New Zealand captain Santner.

Player of the match Conway was dropped on one at backward point off Richard Ngarava in the first over of New Zealand’s reply, and opening partner Tim Seifert was caught at cover for three off Blessing Muzarabani in the next over.

But Conway and Ravindra put on 59 for the second wicket before Daryl Mitchell joined Conway to take New Zealand to a victory over Zimbabwe which virtually ensures them a place in the final on July 26.

“I got a bit lucky early on,” admitted Conway. He said Ngarava and Muzarabani bowled well on a “challenging” surface. “It was nice to get through that period,” he said.

Zimbabwe will have to win their remaining matches against New Zealand and South Africa by big margins to have any chance of reaching the final.

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HARARE: South Africa continued their dominance over Zimbabwe after securing a five-wicket win despite a fighting half-century from Sikandar Raza in the opening match of a Twenty20 international tri-series at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

New Zealand will play its first match of the tournament when it meets South Africa at the same venue on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe were restricted to 141 for six after being sent in, with captain Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 54 not out. Sikandar Raza’s knock was laced with three fours and two sixes.

Both teams showed multiple changes following a two-match Test series in Bulawayo, which South Africa won comfortably.

Opening bowler Lungi Ngidi took a wicket and conceded only seven runs in a three-over opening spell.

Left-arm spinner George Linde took three for 10, including two wickets for four runs in the last over.

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South Africa lost three wickets in the six-over power play against aggressive left-arm fast bowler Richard Ngarava and seamer Trevor Gwandu.

But new cap Rubin Hermann (45) and hard-hitting player of the match Dewald Brevis, who thrashed 41 off 17 balls, put on 72 for the fourth wicket to ensure a comfortable win.

South African captain Rassie van der Dussen praised the two young batters. “There was a little bit of pressure up front,” he said. “Losing three wickets in the power play was not ideal, but their partnership was brilliant.”

Brevis hit five sixes and a four in his innings, including three successive sixes off leg-spinner Ryan Burl.

Sikandar Raza praised Ngarava and Gwandu, who took three for 35 and two for 15, respectively.

“It was the first game of the winter (in Harare) and we weren’t sure of the wicket,” said Raza of his team’s batting performance. At least we know these are going to be high-scoring games,” Sikandar Raza concluded.

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New Zealand opener Finn Allen has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe, starting July 14, after sustaining a foot injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season.

Allen, who was representing the San Francisco Unicorns, picked up the injury during the league stage and will not be available for the MLC playoffs either.

The Unicorns are scheduled to face MI New York in the Eliminator on Wednesday, but have opted not to name a replacement for Finn Allen.

According to a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he returns to New Zealand and undergoes further specialist consultations.

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“Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he has returned to New Zealand and received further specialist consultations,” the statement read. “A replacement player will be named in due course.”

It’s worth noting that during Unicorns’ final league game against Los Angeles Knight Riders on July 6, Finn Allen was dismissed for 4 in the first over during a steep chase of 244.

Despite that, Allen finished the league stage as the Unicorns’ second-highest run-scorer with 333 runs in nine matches.

His tally includes a record-breaking 151 against Washington Freedom in the tournament opener in Oakland, the highest individual score in MLC history.

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