- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR65.1 Crawley sweeps, misses... given! He is going to review Allahuddien Paleker's decision, but it looked pretty adjacent. Tossed up on off stump, sliding under the bat into the front pad. Only has to be clipping - and it is hitting leg stump, so the decision stands. The Zimbabwe fans in the stands are dancing, they've got their second success of the day 368/241.3 rocks back for the slap, holes out to cover! Zimbabwe break through, just when Duckett was breaking loose! He got greedy and he knows it, slapping his thigh as he traipses off. But that's a mighty knock and a hell of a stand too 231/189.3 pitched up, Pope drives... and nicks to the keeper! Zimbabwe celebrate an early breakthrough, though Pope isn't convinced and reviews after some discussion with Brook. There was a noise, which was good enough for Allahuddien Palakar; and UltraEdge quickly backs him up! So the finger is raised again and Pope walks off, he won't be doubling up today 502/482.4 top-edged on the pull, Muzarabani gets rid of Root! It won't be four batters, four centuries, as England's kingpin is undone by the extra bounce from the 6'8' seamer! Well bowled that man, and a good calm take at fine leg too. 479/396.3 Brook chops on! He's livid with that shot, just looking to dab a shortish delivery. Third wicket for Muzarabani... and with that, England have declared their innings. So this game is moving on 565/694.5 Blessing bounces out Ben! Sharp bouncer, flies off the top edge, and it's well taken by Ben Curran down at fine leg! Only a brief innings from Stokes on his return after five months out. Reward for the persevering Muzarabani. That really kicked up from just back of a length, getting big on Stokes as he tried to pull 548/5Extras25 (b 6, lb 10, nb 3, w 6)TOTAL565/6d (96.3 Overs, RR: 5.85)Fall of wickets: 1-231 (Ben Duckett, 41.3 ov), 2-368 (Zak Crawley, 65.1 ov), 3-479 (Joe Root, 82.4 ov), 4-502 (Ollie Pope, 89.3 ov), 5-548 (Ben Stokes, 94.5 ov), 6-565 (Harry Brook, 96.3 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB R Ngarava 9 1 42 0 4.66 0 0 B Muzarabani 24.3 3 143 3 5.83 0 0 TL Chivanga 16 0 117 1 7.31 2 3 VM Nyauchi 18 0 103 0 5.72 0 0 Sikandar Raza 24 1 93 1 3.87 0 0 W Madhevere 3 0 34 1 11.33 0 0 BJ Bennett 2 0 17 0 8.5 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR54.3 popped to Pope - this one will stick! Tongue had him in his crosshairs, again he tried to fend it away but could only balloon the ball straight to short leg. Tongue looks nervously back at the umpire, but he's okay this time. Nevertheless, the crowd rises to salute Brian Bennett after a magnificent innings 246/64.3 edged into Brook's bread-basket! Cook has his maiden wicket! That's a classic Cook dismissal, replicated on countless occasions at Chelmsford. Round the wicket, straightening off the seam, kissing the edge as Curran closed the face to produce a fat edge straight into the hands of second slip. Cook is utterly ecstatic! A long time coming, but his Test career is off the mark! 31/120.4 from nowhere, a beauty! Bashir and England celebrate, but Ervine is hanging around... the umpires are checking to see if this carried to slip. Flighted on middle and leg, turns sharply to snag the edge - and Brook has got his fingers safely under the ball. Bashir gets amongst 'em with his 50th Test wicket! That should do plenty for his confidence 96/232.3 indecision on the back foot, and bowled! It's an arm-ball from Bashir, and a soft way to go, after such a good previous shot. Bashir dangled it outside off, shaping away, and an indeterminate poke leads to an inside-edge into the off stump 156/338.2 stunning bowling from Stokes! He's back alright! Bending into the right-hander, finding lift from a good length, then shaping away to turn Raza inside-out for a simple snick to Smith! He blows out his cheeks. He should have had two wickets in four legal balls! 187/440.6 big inducker, and the stumps are rattled! Utter brilliance from Stokes! Madhevere had been committed to putting bat on ball in a defensive reflex for a series of outswingers, but this time the shiny side is flipped and his feet can't respond in time. A belated poke and an inside-edge into the top of middle ... suddenly the wickets are coming for England 199/556.1 castles him, an offspinner's dream ball! Bashir strikes immediately and Zimbabwe are now seven down and staring at a big deficit. Floated up from over the wicket, draws him into the drive and then spins it back through the gate to hit the top of off. Lovely stuff 251/763.2 ping, back goes the top of off! A shimmy at the crease, as Muzarabani shapes to the off-side, but Atkinson is unfazed by the hi-jinks and just hits his length. Clean through the defences, and with Ngavara unable to bat, Zimbabwe are all out 265/1061.4 yorker! Speared in very full, and England wonder if that is pad-first... if so it might be hitting leg... Stokes reviews. It's definitely pad-first, but lots of stumps visible. But not the leg stump! Three reds on HawkEye, and Atkinson has some reward for his toil 258/8Extras10 (lb 6, nb 4)TOTAL265 all out (63.2 Overs, RR: 4.18)Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Ben Curran, 4.3 ov), 2-96 (Craig Ervine, 20.4 ov), 3-156 (Sean Williams, 32.3 ov), 4-187 (Sikandar Raza, 38.2 ov), 5-199 (Wessly Madhevere, 40.6 ov), 6-246 (Brian Bennett, 54.3 ov), 7-251 (Tafadzwa Tsiga, 56.1 ov), 8-258 (Tanaka Chivanga, 61.4 ov), 9-265 (Blessing Muzarabani, 63.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB SJ Cook 17 1 72 1 4.23 0 0 AAP Atkinson 13.2 2 58 2 4.35 0 0 Shoaib Bashir 16.4 2 62 3 3.72 0 0 JC Tongue 13 1 56 1 4.3 0 3 BA Stokes 3.2 2 11 2 3.3 0 1
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR3.1 wide on the crease, speared into the knee-roll! Up goes the finger! It was angled in sharply, but very full... Bennett reviews as well he might, but if this is clipping, he's gone... there's no bat involved, and it's hitting leg stump! Atkinson's second such wicket this afternoon, and poor Bennett is gone twice in a single day... though that hardly tells a fair story 3/136.2 Soft dismissal! Generously flighted fuller length ball pitching wide outside off, Curran plays the check-drive, a hint of turn away from the batter, failed to keep it down, driven aerially straight to the short cover fielder, Stokes gobbles it up with ease 142/47.2 back of a length, uncomfortable prod from Ervine who didn't fancy getting in line to that, and that's a leading edge, looping straight to Pope under the lid! Tongue's capacity to extract bounce from a good length comes to the party, and with both of the first-innings battlers gone, this innings is in a bit of crisis 7/232.3 hit on the pads sweeping, and Dharmasena gives another! Williams reviews, though. Will this one stick? He missed with a paddle to leg, the ball skidding on to hit him in line with middle... and it's clipping the top of leg stump! Umpire's call by the barest of margins, and Williams is a goner! He was closing in on the honours board, and potentially reclaiming his fastest hundred mantle for Zimbabwe; but it won't be happening today. Bashir finally breaks through for England, 10 minutes before lunch 129/356.2 Another soft dismissal, Raza bites the dust! Short of a length ball slower through the air on the stumps turning in, goes for the big heave stroke, commits a bit too early, throws hit bat at it and only managed to find the leading edge, an easy catch for Brook at the slip area. Fourth five-wicket haul for Shoaib Bashir in Test Cricket. 241/847.4 Edged and Brook takes a blinder! Short pitched delivery with extra bounce off the pitch, Madhevere moves onto the back foot and plays it awkwardly to the off-side, cramped for space, beaten by the extra bounce and finds the thick outside edge towards the second slip fielder, Brook performs an acrobatic dive to his left, raises his right hand in the air, and the ball gets stuck on it! Stokes can't believe it; amusement is all over his face! 207/550.6 Bowled him with a peach! Generously flighted ball pitching around the off stump line with sharp turn inwards and bounce off the pitch, shimmies down the track early and plays it straight with his front foot towards the covers, goes through bat-pad and clipped the top of the leg stump. Bashir was disappointed that Smith had lost the stumping opportunity. Later, he gazed back at the stumps and couldn't believe his eyes. 218/652.2 Muzarabani has holed out! Slight fuller length ball turning in on the stumps, clears the front leg and goes down on one knee, plays the slog sweep and miscued it, connects the inner part of the bat, and into the safe hands of Joe Root at deep mid wicket area 222/758.6 Trapped in front, plumb! Flighted length ball on the off stump channel, turning in on the stumps from outside off, kept low on the track, moves onto the back foot and plays inside the line of the ball, hits the back pad in front of middle-off. Massive appeal and the finger goes up. Chivanga goes for the review, not looking confident at all. No bat involved, all reds and hitting the middle stump with the turn. Looks like that's the end of the innings, the players are shaking hands. Ngarava is injured and can't come out to bat. Sixth wicket haul for Shoaib Bashir, also his best figures in Test Match cricket in an innings. 255/10Extras9 (b 2, lb 2, nb 3, w 2)TOTAL255 all out (f/o) (59 Overs, RR: 4.32)Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Brian Bennett, 3.1 ov), 2-7 (Craig Ervine, 7.2 ov), 3-129 (Sean Williams, 32.3 ov), 4-142 (Ben Curran, 36.2 ov), 5-207 (Wessly Madhevere, 47.4 ov), 6-218 (Tafadzwa Tsiga, 50.6 ov), 7-222 (Blessing Muzarabani, 52.2 ov), 8-241 (Sikandar Raza, 56.2 ov), 9-255 (Tanaka Chivanga, 58.6 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB SJ Cook 14 3 47 0 3.35 1 0 AAP Atkinson 6 2 17 1 2.83 0 0 JC Tongue 12 0 65 1 5.41 0 1 Shoaib Bashir 18 1 81 6 4.5 0 0 BA Stokes 8 0 41 1 5.12 1 2 JE Root 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Match Details
Series
Toss
Zimbabwe , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Series result
England won the one-off match
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
11.00 start, Lunch 13.00-13.40, Tea 15.40-16.00, Close 18.00
Match days
22,23,24 May 2025 (4-day match)
Test debut
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Close of Play
- day 1 - England 1st innings 498/3 (OJ Pope 169*, HC Brook 9*, 88 ov)
- day 2 - Zimbabwe 2nd innings 30/2 (BJ Curran 4*, SC Williams 22*, 10 ov)
Match Notes
- Zimbabwe: 50 runs in 14.4 overs (89 balls), Extras 2
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 50 balls (BJ Curran 15, SC Williams 35, Ex 1)
- SC Williams: 50 off 42 balls (10 x 4)
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 92/2 in 22.5 overs (BJ Curran 25, SC Williams 61)
- Zimbabwe: 100 runs in 24.3 overs (148 balls), Extras 3
- 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 120 balls (BJ Curran 25, SC Williams 72, Ex 3)
- Over 30.4: Review by Zimbabwe (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batter - BJ Curran (Upheld)
- Over 32.3: Review by Zimbabwe (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batter - SC Williams (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- Lunch: Zimbabwe - 141/3 in 35.0 overs (BJ Curran 36, Sikandar Raza 9)
- Zimbabwe: 150 runs in 38.4 overs (234 balls), Extras 5
- Over 41.1: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - A Paleker, Batter - W Madhevere (Struck down)
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 50 balls (Sikandar Raza 25, W Madhevere 24, Ex 2)
- Zimbabwe: 200 runs in 45.5 overs (277 balls), Extras 8
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 213/5 in 49.0 overs (Sikandar Raza 44, TE Tsiga 1)
- Sikandar Raza: 50 off 57 balls (8 x 4)
- Zimbabwe: 250 runs in 58.3 overs (354 balls), Extras 9
- Over 58.6: Review by Zimbabwe (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batter - TL Chivanga (Struck down)
- England: 500 runs in 89.1 overs (537 balls), Extras 22
- Over 89.3: Review by England (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - A Paleker, Batter - OJ Pope (Struck down)
- England: 550 runs in 95.2 overs (575 balls), Extras 25
- HC Brook: 50 off 48 balls (5 x 4, 3 x 6)
- Innings Break: England - 565/6 in 96.3 overs (JL Smith 4)
- Zimbabwe: 50 runs in 8.1 overs (49 balls), Extras 1
- Lunch: Zimbabwe - 73/1 in 16.0 overs (BJ Bennett 36, CR Ervine 30)
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 84 balls (BJ Bennett 14, CR Ervine 37, Ex 1)
- Zimbabwe: 100 runs in 22.4 overs (137 balls), Extras 2
- BJ Bennett: 50 off 56 balls (10 x 4)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 60 balls (BJ Bennett 30, SC Williams 20, Ex 1)
- Zimbabwe: 150 runs in 30.6 overs (187 balls), Extras 3
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 151/2 in 31.0 overs (BJ Bennett 80, SC Williams 20)
- BJ Bennett: 100 off 97 balls (20 x 4)
- Zimbabwe: 200 runs in 41.1 overs (249 balls), Extras 8
- Tea: Zimbabwe - 210/5 in 43.0 overs (BJ Bennett 122, TE Tsiga 0)
- Zimbabwe: 250 runs in 55.1 overs (335 balls), Extras 10
- Over 59.2: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batter - TL Chivanga (Struck down)
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 256/7 in 60.0 overs (B Muzarabani 3, TL Chivanga 2)
- Over 61.4: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batter - TL Chivanga (Upheld)
- Innings Break: Zimbabwe - 265/10 in 63.2 overs (VM Nyauchi 0)
- Over 3.1: Review by Zimbabwe (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - A Paleker, Batter - BJ Bennett (Struck down)
- Over 4.5: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batter - BJ Curran (Struck down)
- End Of Day: Zimbabwe - 30/2 in 10.0 overs (BJ Curran 4, SC Williams 22)
- England: 50 runs in 10.2 overs (62 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 62 balls (Z Crawley 22, BM Duckett 29, Ex 0)
- Drinks: England - 67/0 in 14.0 overs (Z Crawley 27, BM Duckett 39)
- BM Duckett: 50 off 47 balls (9 x 4)
- England: 100 runs in 20.2 overs (123 balls), Extras 2
- 1st Wicket: 100 runs in 123 balls (Z Crawley 46, BM Duckett 53, Ex 2)
- Z Crawley: 50 off 76 balls (7 x 4)
- Lunch: England - 130/0 in 26.0 overs (Z Crawley 53, BM Duckett 75)
- England: 150 runs in 29.4 overs (179 balls), Extras 2
- 1st Wicket: 150 runs in 179 balls (Z Crawley 59, BM Duckett 90, Ex 2)
- BM Duckett: 100 off 100 balls (15 x 4)
- England: 200 runs in 37.4 overs (227 balls), Extras 9
- 1st Wicket: 200 runs in 227 balls (Z Crawley 70, BM Duckett 121, Ex 9)
- Drinks: England - 208/0 in 39.0 overs (Z Crawley 71, BM Duckett 128)
- England: 250 runs in 43.2 overs (261 balls), Extras 13
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 47 balls (Z Crawley 12, OJ Pope 38, Ex 0)
- Tea: England - 295/1 in 53.0 overs (Z Crawley 93, OJ Pope 49)
- OJ Pope: 50 off 48 balls (8 x 4)
- England: 300 runs in 54.1 overs (326 balls), Extras 13
- Z Crawley: 100 off 145 balls (12 x 4)
- 2nd Wicket: 100 runs in 105 balls (Z Crawley 27, OJ Pope 74, Ex 0)
- England: 350 runs in 61.5 overs (372 balls), Extras 18
- Over 65.1: Review by England (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - A Paleker, Batter - Z Crawley (Struck down)
- Drinks: England - 396/2 in 71.0 overs (OJ Pope 99, JE Root 14)
- England: 400 runs in 71.5 overs (433 balls), Extras 19
- OJ Pope: 100 off 109 balls (14 x 4, 1 x 6)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 61 balls (OJ Pope 30, JE Root 23, Ex 0)
- England: 450 runs in 79.6 overs (482 balls), Extras 20
- OJ Pope: 150 off 142 balls (23 x 4, 1 x 6)
- 3rd Wicket: 100 runs in 95 balls (OJ Pope 67, JE Root 33, Ex 1)
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- End Of Day: England - 498/3 in 88.0 overs (OJ Pope 169, HC Brook 9)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsStokes blames media 'agenda' for pre-match pressure on Pope
Captain asked media to "put 2 and 2 together" in pre-match comments about Bethell
Zimbabwe give back the joy as long exile ends in heroic failure
Ex-pat community rally round to celebrate the occasion of first Test in England since 2003
Zimbabwe fans singing 'gave me goosebumps', says centurion Bennett
Opener produces Test best with 139 off 143 to lift tourists at Trent Bridge
Brian Bennett blazes century but England scent three-day win after follow-on
Opener lights up Trent Bridge with 97-ball hundred but England tighten their grip by the close
Brian Bennett cuts himself a slice of history to keep Zimbabwe singing
Young opener in his seventh Test notches his country's fastest hundred during buoyant display