Matt Henry produced yet another masterclass in seam bowling to claim his sixth Test five-wicket haul and put New Zealand firmly in control on the opening day of the second Test in Bulawayo. His 5 for 40 tore through Zimbabwe’s fragile batting line-up, who were bundled out for just 125 in under 49 overs. It was a sobering day for the hosts, despite the emotional subplot of Brendan Taylor’s international comeback after a three-and-a-half-year ban.
Taylor, elevated to open the batting in only his seventh innings in that role, looked the most assured of Zimbabwe’s batters, compiling a patient 44. His judgement outside off stump and composure against the new ball initially offered hope. Yet his dismissal – a soft chip to Mitchell Santner at extra cover off Henry – came just after lunch and ended any lingering resistance.
Only wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga, with a fighting 33 from No. 9, joined Taylor in reaching double figures beyond 11. The highest partnership of the innings was a mere 29, underlining Zimbabwe’s inability to build pressure on a surface that was far from unplayable.
Debutant seamer Zakary Foulkes provided strong support for Henry, claiming 4 for 38 with a mix of full, probing deliveries and well-directed short balls. The other debutants, Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher, also impressed with their discipline and control, ensuring Zimbabwe never found any rhythm.
Collapse by Familiar Means
Zimbabwe’s decision to bat first quickly looked questionable. Early movement was present but not excessive, and it was poor shot selection rather than vicious conditions that did most of the damage.
Brian Bennett’s edge to second slip off the ninth ball of the match set the tone. Henry then should have dismissed Nick Welch immediately afterwards, but Will Young grassed the chance. Welch survived a few plays-and-misses before falling lbw to Henry, beaten on the inside edge.
The middle order offered little resistance. Sean Williams was drawn into a wide delivery by Foulkes, edging low to third slip, while Craig Ervine fell just before lunch, reaching for another wide ball to give Young his third catch of the morning. At the break, Zimbabwe were 67 for 4, with Taylor on 33 and holding their hopes together.
Taylor’s patient work was undone early in the second session when he drove loosely off the back foot to gift Henry his third wicket. From there, the collapse accelerated. Foulkes removed Sikandar Raza with a short ball – the third time in the series Raza had fallen to that tactic – before trapping Trevor Gwandu lbw. Henry returned to castle Vincent Masekesa and Blessing Muzarabani in quick succession to complete his five-for.
A brief last-wicket stand of 25 between Tsiga and Tanaka Chivanga pushed Zimbabwe past 100, but Fisher capped a memorable debut by having Chivanga caught at mid-off. The innings ended on 125, Zimbabwe’s second-lowest score since 2023 and a total that left them with little margin for error.
Conway and Young Dominate in Reply
If Zimbabwe hoped their seamers could extract similar success, those hopes evaporated quickly. Devon Conway and Will Young batted with control and authority, putting on New Zealand’s third-highest opening partnership against Zimbabwe – and their first opening stand over 150 in nearly three years.
Conway drove fluently through the covers, taking advantage of overpitched offerings from Chivanga, while Young combined crisp cuts with calculated pulls against Muzarabani. New Zealand raced to 57 without loss inside ten overs, with 40 of those runs coming in boundaries.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers adjusted their lengths but often overcompensated, drifting too full and allowing the openers to keep scoring. Gwandu’s introduction slowed the run rate slightly, yet New Zealand remained untroubled. Young reached his 11th Test fifty with a flick through midwicket, bringing up the team’s hundred in the process. Conway followed suit with his 13th Test fifty, surviving a couple of edges that evaded the slips.
The only breakthrough came late in the day when Young, on 74, chopped a pull shot onto his stumps off Gwandu, continuing his wait for a maiden Test century. Conway closed unbeaten on 79 alongside nightwatchman Duffy, with New Zealand 174 for 1 and already leading by 49.
For Zimbabwe, the day was a stark reminder of the gulf between the sides. Taylor’s presence added experience to the top order, but the familiar pattern of early wickets and soft dismissals persisted. New Zealand, meanwhile, find itself in a commanding position with a deep batting line-up and three full days to push for a series sweep.
