- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR2.6 Edged and taken, Henry strikes early for New Zealand. Henry has varied his lengths nicely and this is a just reward. This one is fuller than the previous ball, slightly fuller than good length, on the fourth stump. Bennett hangs back and pokes at it, this time the edge carries nice and low to third slip, where Young takes it with a tumble 10/16.4 The change in angle works for Henry! Both the Zimbabwe openers are back in the dressing room. He bowls it full on off, Curran is not anticipating it there. His weight is on the back foot but he looks to drive at it - more in reaction to the ball. Gets a thick outside edge that sits straight in third slip's hands 24/226.2 and it takes just two balls for Henry to provide the breakthrough. A length ball in the channel, just around off, thus making the batter play. Welch pushes at it and gets a healthy edge to second slip 67/411.2 Chopped on! Williams has been troubled by the angle inwards and that has brought about his downfall. Smith angles it in from a shortish length, Williams moves back and looks to steer it to third. But the nip back makes the ball take the inside edge and knock the leg bail off. Zimbabwe slide in trouble 31/350.1 full and angling towards the batter from around the wicket. Ervine misses the flick and gets hit on the pads. An appeal for lbw, the umpire takes his time before raising the finger. Was it heading down? Perhaps. But there's no DRS, so Ervine has to walk back 123/626.5 Short ball does it for Henry, who picks up his fourth! A nothing dismissal really. Digs it in on middle and angles it into Raza, who looks to hop and fend it away. All he manages is a glove and it lobs up for Blundell to take an easy diving catch. Zimbabwe slipping fast 69/552.5 Smith strikes back. A length ball from wide of the crease, and it keeps coming in with the angle. Tsiga looks to defend but gets beaten on the inside edge and is hit on the back leg, not too high. No hesitation in the umpire's mind that this was going to hit the stumps 136/756.5 Brutal bouncer to get a five-wicket haul for Henry! Absolutely nothing that Nyamhuri could do about it. The bumper is on middle, aimed at the batter's head. He takes his eyes off it and looks to fend, gets it off the shoulder of the blade. Young at third slip stands still and takes the skier 143/859.2 Huge mix-up and Masekesa is out of here! Fuller outside off, driven towards cover. Calls through for a run and starts running but Muzarabani does not respond. Too late before Masekesa spots his partner and turns back. Conway's throw to Blundell is next to the stumps 149/960.3 Henry closes out the innings with a six-wicket haul! Sees Muzarabani make room, follows him up with a length ball and cramps him for room. He looks to turn it across the line but only gets a leading edge towards cover, where Santner runs in and pulls off a diving catch. Zimbabwe shot out for 149 149/10Extras13 (b 4, lb 2, w 7)TOTAL149 all out (60.3 Overs, RR: 2.46)Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Brian Bennett, 2.6 ov), 2-24 (Ben Curran, 6.4 ov), 3-31 (Sean Williams, 11.2 ov), 4-67 (Nick Welch, 26.2 ov), 5-69 (Sikandar Raza, 26.5 ov), 6-123 (Craig Ervine, 50.1 ov), 7-136 (Tafadzwa Tsiga, 52.5 ov), 8-143 (Newman Nyamhuri, 56.5 ov), 9-149 (Vincent Masekesa, 59.2 ov), 10-149 (Blessing Muzarabani, 60.3 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MJ Henry 15.3 3 39 6 2.51 0 0 W O'Rourke 13 3 26 0 2 2 0 NG Smith 14 8 20 3 1.42 0 0 MJ Santner 16 4 46 0 2.87 0 0 MG Bracewell 2 0 12 0 6 0 0
Current Run Rate
CRR
2.38
Last 10 Ov (Run Rate)
Last 10 Ov (RR)
23/2 (2.3)
Current Run Rate
CRR
2.38
Last 10 Ov (Run Rate)
Last 10 Ov (RR)
23/2 (2.3)
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR26.1 and a wicket very first ball. But did it carry to Welch at short leg? He himself isn't convinced and signals for TV umpire. Was a short ball from Muzarabani that had Young hoping and fending it towards short leg. Welch was a bit deeper than usual and had to take a couple of steps before putting in a dive to his left. Replay suggests he clearly took it above the ground, with hands under the ball. An easy decision for the third umpire and Young walks back 92/154.5 and that extra bounce does the trick! It was a short of length outside off. Not too wide but Conway looked to cut uppishly. The ball got big on him and he could hit it only at head height towards gully where Bennett made no mistake 177/444.4 Muzarabani breaks through and this is not good for Nicholls! Once again he backs away to slash it hard over gully, this time he was cramped for room. Muzarabani follows him with a back-of-a-length ball and it doesn't rise as much as Nicholls expected it to. Slaps it straight to Bennett, who makes no mistake at gully. A chance provided to Nicholls because of Latham's injury and he doesn't make it count with a big one 158/247.4 Taken on second attempt, Raza is delighted! Tossed up full around off, Ravindra lunges forward and looks to defend with hard hands. The ball goes off the outside edge to Ervine's hand at first slip, but he fumbles and then dives to his left to take it on the rebound. Raza's probing line pays off. Zimbabwe strike twice in four overs 163/396.1 A perfect yorker from Nyamhuri to end New Zealand's innings! Mitchell walks across to scoop it away but misses and sees the stumps shattered. New Zealand bowled out for 307 with Smith not to bat further 307/956.6 in the air and Chivanga has his second. Was a short ball, just outside off. Blundell went for the pull but ended up lobbing it towards deep square leg where Williams took a simple catch 181/562.4 Muzarabani picks up another! Bracewell departs! It was short of length at the stumps. Bracewell went for the pull only to top edge it high up in the air. Tsiga calls for it and for a moment it looked like he had misjudged it. In the end, he had to put a full-stretch dive to take the catch near short fine leg. New Zealand 200 for 6, only 51 ahead 200/671.2 Soft, soft dismissal! Santner cannot believe what he has done. Sees the flight, charges down to smother it. But he is not towards the pitch of it and ends up chipping it straight back to Masekesa for the simplest of catches. In a spell where he has dished out a lot of full tosses, the legspinner picks up his first wicket, even if it was not with his best ball. New Zealand lead by 84 233/792.6 Ouch. More pain for Smith. Another short ball, this time around off and middle. He hops and gets an inside edge onto his body and it dies down before short leg. Immediately crouches down in pain. And this does not look good. The physio comes out again but Smith is walking off, retired hurt. In fact on another look, don't think this ball hit his body. But he was immediately writhing in pain as soon as ball hit bat 294/795.2 Knocked him over! This was coming, wasn't it? Williams bowls one full and straight in line of the stumps. Looks like the arm ball. Henry prods forward to defend for the turn but there is none. It goes through bat and bad and hits leg stump 307/8Extras5 (lb 4, w 1)TOTAL307 all out (96.1 Overs, RR: 3.19)Fall of wickets: 1-92 (Will Young, 26.1 ov), 2-158 (Henry Nicholls, 44.4 ov), 3-163 (Rachin Ravindra, 47.4 ov), 4-177 (Devon Conway, 54.5 ov), 5-181 (Tom Blundell, 56.6 ov), 6-200 (Michael Bracewell, 62.4 ov), 7-233 (Mitchell Santner, 71.2 ov), 7-294* (Nathan Smith, retired not out ), 8-307 (Matt Henry, 95.2 ov), 9-307 (Daryl Mitchell, 96.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB B Muzarabani 26 5 73 3 2.8 0 0 TL Chivanga 18 3 51 2 2.83 1 0 NT Nyamhuri 16.1 2 64 1 3.95 0 0 Sikandar Raza 20 2 63 1 3.15 0 0 SC Williams 7 1 23 1 3.28 0 0 V Masekesa 9 1 29 1 3.22 0 0
- BATSMENRB4s6sSR7.5 Nicked behind! Zimbabwe lose their openers. O'Rourke pitches it up, slightly fuller than good length. Bennett is not fully forward after what happened the previous ball. Has a tame poke at it, only to edge it behind to Blundell. One-way traffic continues, with respect to Zimbabwe's batting 29/26.6 The bouncer does the trick and Henry's wicket-taking spree continues. Curran never looked to be in. He was forever expecting the short ball this innings and defending those unconvincingly. Now looks to take on the pull shot and top edges it towards fine leg. O'Rourke runs to his left, has his eyes on the ball and pouches it safely. Zimbabwe lose one early and are still 133 behind 25/1Extras0TOTAL31/2 (13 Overs, RR: 2.38)Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Ben Curran, 6.6 ov), 2-29 (Brian Bennett, 7.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB MJ Henry 4 0 11 1 2.75 0 0 W O'Rourke 4 1 18 1 4.5 0 0 MG Bracewell 3 2 1 0 0.33 0 0 MJ Santner 2 1 1 0 0.5 0 0
Match Details
Toss
Zimbabwe , elected to bat first
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00
Match days
30,31 July,1,2,3 August 2025 (5-day match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Close of Play
- day 1 - New Zealand 1st innings 92/0 (WA Young 41*, DP Conway 51*, 26 ov)
- day 2 - Zimbabwe 2nd innings 31/2 (NR Welch 2*, V Masekesa 0*, 13 ov)
Match Notes
- New Zealand: 100 runs in 29.1 overs (175 balls), Extras 1
- Drinks: New Zealand - 125/1 in 38.0 overs (DP Conway 71, HM Nicholls 12)
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 88 balls (DP Conway 25, HM Nicholls 24, Ex 1)
- New Zealand: 150 runs in 42.1 overs (253 balls), Extras 1
- Lunch: New Zealand - 174/3 in 52.0 overs (DP Conway 87, DJ Mitchell 9)
- New Zealand: 200 runs in 62.2 overs (374 balls), Extras 3
- Drinks: New Zealand - 209/6 in 66.0 overs (DJ Mitchell 24, MJ Santner 6)
- New Zealand: 250 runs in 75.4 overs (454 balls), Extras 3
- Tea: New Zealand - 254/7 in 79.0 overs (DJ Mitchell 48, NG Smith 8)
- New ball taken at 80.1 overs
- DJ Mitchell: 50 off 85 balls (4 x 4)
- 8th Wicket: 50 runs in 101 balls (DJ Mitchell 30, NG Smith 19, Ex 1)
- Drinks: New Zealand - 294/7 in 92.3 overs (DJ Mitchell 73, NG Smith 22)
- NG Smith retired hurt at 294/7 (22, 92.6 overs)
- New Zealand: 300 runs in 94.2 overs (566 balls), Extras 5
- Innings Break: New Zealand - 307/9 in 96.1 overs (W O'Rourke 0)
- End Of Day: Zimbabwe - 31/2 in 13.0 overs (NR Welch 2, V Masekesa 0)
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 31/3 in 13.0 overs (NR Welch 4, CR Ervine 0)
- Zimbabwe: 50 runs in 23.1 overs (139 balls), Extras 6
- Lunch: Zimbabwe - 67/4 in 26.2 overs (CR Ervine 13)
- Drinks: Zimbabwe - 96/5 in 42.0 overs (CR Ervine 24, TE Tsiga 16)
- Zimbabwe: 100 runs in 43.1 overs (259 balls), Extras 8
- 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 132 balls (CR Ervine 25, TE Tsiga 19, Ex 6)
- Tea: Zimbabwe - 138/7 in 55.0 overs (NT Nyamhuri 6, V Masekesa 1)
- Innings Break: Zimbabwe - 149/10 in 60.3 overs (TL Chivanga 0)
- Drinks: New Zealand - 45/0 in 12.0 overs (WA Young 21, DP Conway 24)
- New Zealand: 50 runs in 13.4 overs (82 balls), Extras 0
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 82 balls (WA Young 22, DP Conway 28, Ex 0)
- DP Conway: 50 off 83 balls (8 x 4)
- End Of Day: New Zealand - 92/0 in 26.0 overs (WA Young 41, DP Conway 51)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsMitchell puts New Zealand ahead despite middle-order collapse
New Zealand remain on top after taking a 158-run lead
Henry six-for headlines New Zealand dominance on opening day
Henry and Nathan Smith dismantled Zimbabwe before Conway and Young completed a perfect day for the visitors
NZ back in whites sans stars, Zimbabwe seek redemption
New Zealand, who are playing a Test for the first time this year, are without Latham, Williamson, Phillips and Jamieson
Latham out of first Test against Zimbabwe, Santner to stand in as NZ captain
Latham suffered the injury while fielding during a Vitality Blast game earlier this month and did not recover in time for the first Test
From net bowler to 'X-factor' - Matt Fisher on the cusp of a potential Test debut
Regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in New Zealand, 25-year-old Matt Fisher is ready to make the most of a surprise call-up