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| @Mitchell playing a shot during his 80-run innings vs Zimbabwe at Bulawayo 2025 |
Match Overview:
New Zealand remains to be in control on the 2nd Day of 1st Test in Bulawayo
New Zealand dominated Zimbabwe further on the second day of the first Test at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday, 31 July 2025. Zimbabwe followed on 127 runs behind at stumps, with 31/2 on the board in their second innings, with the New Zealand first innings total of 307 giving them a good base.
First innings: New Zealand 307 all-out:
New Zealand came back to bat with the score 92/0, Devon Conway (10) and Will Young (41) were already in. However, the hosts were quick to respond: Blessing Muzarabani bowled Young with a short ball on the first delivery of the day and a crisp Nick Welch catch ended his inningsConway and Henry Nicholls then constructed a partnership of 66 runs. Nicholls followed up by getting to 34 when he cut Muzarabani to gully, and in the process, he became the 158th player to reach 3,000 Test runs
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Conway hit the ground running, with 12 fours in his 170‑ball 88 that was just short of another Test century. Soon after Tanaka Chivanga sent Conway off and added to that by having Tom Blundell sent back again with a low score thus bringing about a mini collapse
In the middle-order wobble (New Zealand went from 158/1 to 200/6), Daryl Mitchell anchored the lower order with a magnificent 80 off 119 balls, steering partnerships until tea and further on
He came together with Nathan Smith to share a crucial stand of 61 runs but Smith had to retire hurt with a strain in his abdomen, after hitting 22 off 79 balls
However, Mitchell still battled through the wickets falling at regular intervals and kept adding boundaries with the right timing as well as the only six of the innings being scored by him.
New Zealand later came to be bowled out at 307 in the 96.1st over. Zimbabwe was led by Muzarabani (3/73) and Chivanga (2/51) in their attack and Sikandar Raza and Newman Nyamhuri contributed one wicket each
The total put the Black Caps in a first‑innings lead of 158 runs, which was a commanding position but by no means insurmountable considering the way the Black Caps had toiled to get those runs thanks to the spirited bowling effort by the Zimbabwean
Zimbabwe response: 31/2 at stumps, still 127runs behind:
Zimbabwe came under pressure to start their second innings. Matt Henry continued as he had left off on Day 1, bowling Ben Curran (11) with another short ball and then Brian Bennett (18) with a catch to Tom Blundell
Those two blows left the hosts one 29/2 after the first eight overs of their chase.
Zimbabwe was only 31/2 in 13 overs with 127 runs behind it by stumps
Nick Welch was still undefeated on 2 and Vincent Masekesa was yet to score
During the final Session, New Zealand rotated the bowlers effectively. Will O Rourke, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell provided clean overs-Masekesa swung out against Santner trying to find an answer to his probing spin, whereas Bracewell and O'Rourke kept the scoreboard dull
At the 2 nd wicket fall, Zimbabwe had sent Masekesa in as a nightwatchman to guard their middle order into Day 3.
Key Performer & turning points:
- Devon Conway (88) and Daryl Mitchell (80) gave New Zealand the main batting contributions that saved the visitors when they were on the brink of collapsing in the middle order
- Matt Henry again kept up his non-stop short-ball formula in the 2 nd innings, taking another wicket to finish with 6/39 in the first innings and causing pressure with the ball again on Day 2
- Blessing Muzarabani was also an early breakthrough; Chivanga also bowled short-pitched deliveries which further unsettled New Zealand momentum
- This rough lower-order hitting (22) by Nathan Smith, in collaboration with Mitchell, was agonizing because of his forced retirement injury that could reduce his bowling contribution in the second innings of Zimbabwe.
Match scenario at close of play:
Team Innings Score Trailing/Leading
Zimbabwe 1st 149 all out --
New Zealand 1st 307 all out +158
Zimbabwe 2nd (day 2 stumps) 31/2 still trailing by 127
New Zealand are favorites, yet Zimbabwe displayed a few instances of defiance, through their bowling that crushed the Kiwi middle order. Unless the hosts can get their act together early on Day 3, New Zealand have it all their way in the Test.
What to watch on Day3:
- Will Zimbabwe be able to overcome the initial loss of wickets and gain the upper hand?
- Will Nathan Smith get well, and contribute by the bat and the ball?
- Will the seamers of Zimbabwe be able to unite and make New Zeeland feel the heat?
Day 3 of the match begins with New Zealand in the driver seat, however, a valiant effort by Zimbabwe can flip the match back in their favour.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 149 & 31/2 (Brian Bennett 18; Matt Henry 1-11, William O'Rourke 1-18) follow on trail New Zealand 307 (Devon Conway 88, Daryl Mitchell 80; Blessing Muzarabani 3-73) by 127 runs.