New Zealand wrapped up a commanding victory over Zimbabwe in the first Test match of the series, chasing down a modest target of just 9 runs in the fourth innings. The Black Caps showcased their dominance in both batting and bowling departments, led by standout performances from Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, and Mitchell Santner.
The match began with Zimbabwe winning the toss and electing to bat first. However, their decision quickly backfired as New Zealand’s pace spearhead Matt Henry ripped through the batting lineup, claiming a sensational six-wicket haul. Nathan Smith supported well, taking the remaining four wickets. Zimbabwe were bowled out cheaply with only a few brief resistances—captain Craig Ervine (39), Nick Welch (27), and Tafadzwa Tsiga (30) offered minor resistance in an otherwise underwhelming total.
In response, New Zealand built a strong first-innings lead, piling on 307 runs in 96.1 overs. Devon Conway anchored the innings with a composed 88 off 170 deliveries, while Daryl Mitchell contributed a fluent 80 off 119 balls. Will Young also chipped in with a valuable 41. Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/73.
Zimbabwe’s second innings offered no better resilience. Once again, they faltered, getting bowled out for under 165. Matt Henry continued his red-hot form, adding three more wickets to end the match with match figures of 9 for 90. Mitchell Santner delivered a game-changing spell, scalping four wickets, including the dangerous Sean Williams, who was dismissed for 49—just one run short of a half-century. William O’Rourke made an impact too, finishing with an economical 3/28 from 10 overs, including four maidens.
A late 36-run partnership between Tsiga and Muzarabani helped Zimbabwe avoid an innings defeat, but it only delayed the inevitable. They managed to set a meager target of 9 runs for New Zealand.
In the final innings, Conway scored 4 runs before falling to debutant Newman Nyamhuri. Henry Nicholls then finished off the match with a boundary, sealing an emphatic 9-wicket win for the visitors.
This defeat marks Zimbabwe’s fifth consecutive Test loss in 2025, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, raising serious concerns over the team’s red-ball form.
The second and final Test of the series will take place on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Bulawayo.