The most recent men’s international match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand was the second Test of New Zealand’s 2025 tour of Zimbabwe, played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, from August 7, 2025. New Zealand produced one of the most dominant performances in the history of the fixture, defeating Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs.
The victory completed a 2–0 Test-series sweep for New Zealand. It was also New Zealand’s biggest Test victory by runs and Zimbabwe’s heaviest Test defeat by innings and runs.
Match Summary
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Zimbabwe vs New Zealand |
| Series | New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe, 2025 |
| Match | 2nd Test |
| Date | August 7–9, 2025 |
| Venue | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo |
| Toss | Zimbabwe won and elected to bat |
| Zimbabwe 1st innings | 125 all out |
| New Zealand 1st innings | 601/3 declared |
| Zimbabwe 2nd innings | 117 all out |
| Result | New Zealand won by an innings and 359 runs |
| Player of the Match | Devon Conway |
| Player of the Series | Matt Henry |
Zimbabwe’s First Innings: 125 All Out
Zimbabwe’s decision to bat first quickly became a difficult one. Matt Henry led New Zealand’s bowling attack, taking five wickets, while debutant Zakary Foulkes claimed four.
Brendan Taylor was Zimbabwe’s top scorer with 44, while wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga remained unbeaten on 33. No other Zimbabwe batter passed 11.
Zimbabwe Batting — 1st Innings
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 0 | 9 |
| Brendan Taylor | 44 | 107 |
| Nick Welch | 11 | 31 |
| Sean Williams | 11 | 13 |
| Craig Ervine (c) | 7 | 28 |
| Sikandar Raza | 5 | 14 |
| Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk) | 33* | 54 |
| Trevor Gwandu | 0 | 2 |
| Vincent Masekesa | 1 | 9 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 3 | 5 |
| Tanaka Chivanga | 4 | 22 |
| Total | 125 all out | 48.5 overs |
New Zealand Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 15 | 40 | 5 |
| Zakary Foulkes | 16 | 38 | 4 |
| Matthew Fisher | 6.5 | 16 | 1 |
| Jacob Duffy | 10 | 24 | 0 |
Henry’s five-wicket haul immediately put New Zealand in control, but the real story of the match came when the visitors’ batting lineup took advantage of Zimbabwe’s weakened position.
New Zealand’s Massive 601/3 Declared
New Zealand responded with an extraordinary batting display, scoring 601 for 3 declared.
Three New Zealand batters scored 150 or more:
- Devon Conway — 153
- Henry Nicholls — 150*
- Rachin Ravindra — 165*
Will Young also contributed 74, while debutant Jacob Duffy made 36.
New Zealand Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | 153 | 245 |
| Will Young | 74 | 101 |
| Jacob Duffy | 36 | 55 |
| Henry Nicholls | 150* | 245 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 165* | 139 |
| Total | 601/3 declared | 130 overs |
Ravindra’s 165 was particularly aggressive, coming from just 139 balls and including 21 fours and two sixes. Conway’s 153 came from 245 balls, while Nicholls remained unbeaten on 150.
The three major hundreds meant New Zealand finished with a staggering 476-run first-innings lead.
New Zealand’s Batting Dominance
The partnership between Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra was especially damaging. The pair added 256 runs for the fourth wicket, leaving Zimbabwe’s bowlers with almost no opportunity to regain control.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled throughout the innings. Blessing Muzarabani took one wicket but conceded 101 runs, while Vincent Masekesa and Trevor Gwandu also conceded heavily.
Zimbabwe’s Second Innings: 117 All Out
Trailing by 476 runs, Zimbabwe needed a vastly improved batting effort simply to extend the contest.
Instead, New Zealand’s bowlers finished the match rapidly.
Nick Welch offered the strongest resistance, scoring an unbeaten 47 from 71 balls. Sean Williams made nine, while Craig Ervine scored 17. However, the lower order collapsed around Welch.
Zimbabwe Batting — 2nd Innings
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 0 | 3 |
| Brendan Taylor | 7 | 12 |
| Nick Welch | 47* | 71 |
| Sean Williams | 9 | 6 |
| Craig Ervine (c) | 17 | 31 |
| Sikandar Raza | 4 | 2 |
| Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk) | 5 | 12 |
| Vincent Masekesa | 4 | 14 |
| Trevor Gwandu | 0 | 4 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 8 | 11 |
| Tanaka Chivanga | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 117 all out | 28.1 overs |
Zakary Foulkes Announces Himself in Test Cricket
One of the standout stories of the match was Zakary Foulkes.
Making his Test debut, the New Zealand seamer took 4/38 in Zimbabwe’s first innings before returning in the second innings to claim 5/37.
That gave him nine wickets in his debut Test.
His second-innings spell destroyed Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order. Foulkes removed Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Trevor Gwandu and Blessing Muzarabani.
Matt Henry also finished the match with another strong contribution, while his five-wicket haul in the first innings helped set the tone for New Zealand’s victory.
Match-Winning Performances
| Player | Performance | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Rachin Ravindra | 165* | Highest score of the NZ innings |
| Devon Conway | 153 | Player of the Match |
| Henry Nicholls | 150* | Unbeaten century |
| Matt Henry | 5/40 + 2/16 | Key bowling contribution |
| Zakary Foulkes | 4/38 + 5/37 | 9 wickets on Test debut |
| Nick Welch | 47* in 2nd innings | Zimbabwe’s top resistance |
A Record-Breaking New Zealand Victory
The final margin — an innings and 359 runs — tells the story of the match better than almost any individual statistic.
New Zealand’s 601/3 came after Zimbabwe had managed only 125 in their first innings. After the declaration, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 117 in just 28.1 overs.
The result was described as New Zealand’s biggest victory in Test cricket by runs, while Zimbabwe suffered their heaviest Test defeat.
The match also ended the two-Test series with New Zealand winning 2–0. In the first Test at the same venue, New Zealand had already won by nine wickets.
Conclusion
The Bulawayo Test was a complete demonstration of New Zealand’s superiority across all three major phases of Test cricket.
Zimbabwe’s batting failed twice, producing scores of 125 and 117, while New Zealand’s top order produced three individual scores of 150 or more. The bowling attack then completed the job, with Matt Henry providing experience and Zakary Foulkes producing a spectacular debut performance.
The final scorecard — Zimbabwe 125 & 117, New Zealand 601/3 declared — makes this more than just another Test victory. It was a record-setting performance and one of the most emphatic wins New Zealand have produced in Test cricket.
