ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test Match：Day 3

Result：New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 9 wickets.

New Zealand cruised to a dominant win over Zimbabwe, wrapping things up with just eight runs needed in the final innings, done and dusted in 14 balls! Matt Henry stole the show with a phenomenal 9-wicket haul, making life miserable for Zimbabwe’s batters. Even without Nathan Smith for a chunk of the match, the Kiwis didn’t miss a beat. Mitchell Santner (also standing in as skipper) and Will O’Rourke pitched in with some spicy spells to keep the hosts under 170 twice. Safe to say, the bowling attack was on fire!

From white-ball to red-ball, it’s been consecutive Player of the Match awards for Matt Henry 🏅

T20I Tri-Series Final ✔️
1st Test ✔️ #ZIMvNZ #CricketNation 📷 = Zimbabwe Cricket pic.twitter.com/GuxfVwXf1i

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) August 1, 2025

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, just couldn’t piece together a solid innings. Sean Williams showed some fight with a 49, and keeper Tafadzwa Tsiga gave it his all in both innings, but it was more damage control than momentum. A single 50-run partnership and a lot of “what could have been” moments made for a tough Test at home. With Brendan Taylor waiting in the wings for the next match, some reshuffling seems inevitable. The second Test kicks off Thursday, but for now, the Black Caps are heading into the weekend all smiles.

New Zealand begin their Test series against Zimbabwe with a thumping win in Bulawayo 👊

📸: @ZimCricketv#ZIMvNZ 📝: https://t.co/C8GPrhHguE pic.twitter.com/lKqd2dlyq2

— ICC (@ICC) August 1, 2025

ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test Match：Day 2

Stumps：Zimbabwe trail by 127 runs.

New Zealand kept things rolling on Day 2 in Bulawayo, thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 80 that pulled them out of a mini-collapse and up to a total of 307. After cruising early at 158/1, the Kiwis suddenly lost five wickets for just 42 runs, but Mitchell and the tail hung in to give them a handy 158-run lead. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, especially Muzarabani and Chivanga, put in the hard yards, mixing short balls and tight lines to keep things interesting. Conway was silky with his 88, and Nicholls chipped in too, though he looked rusty at the start.

Mighty 8️⃣8️⃣ 💥
By N.O 8️⃣8️⃣ 🙌 #WhistlePodu #ZIMvNZ pic.twitter.com/CARKrzWpEg

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 31, 2025

Zimbabwe had a nightmare start to their second innings, losing two quick wickets before stumps and finishing at 31/2. They’re still trailing by 127, and unless someone plays a blinder tomorrow, this one’s looking tilted toward the visitors. Bennett’s holding one end, but with Henry and O’Rourke already striking, the pressure’s on the hosts to dig deep. Test cricket’s all about momentum swings, and New Zealand are riding that wave right now.

Matt Henry (1-11) & Will O’Rourke (1-18) snared a wicket each before stumps. We head into Day 3 with a 127-run lead. Catch up on the scorecard | https://t.co/lOpzEbMrfi Highlights will be available on ThreeNow. #ZIMvNZ #CricketNation 📷 = Zimbabwe Cricket pic.twitter.com/TAhWOYzQ61

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 31, 2025

ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test Match：Day 1

Stumps：New Zealand trail by 57 runs.

New Zealand absolutely bossed Day 1 in Bulawayo, thanks to Matt Henry tearing through Zimbabwe’s batting lineup like a hot knife through butter. He picked up a stunning 6 for 39, helped out by Nathan Smith’s tidy 3 for 20. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, just couldn’t get going, only scraping together 149 despite a gritty 39 from Craig Ervine. Edges flew, catches stuck, and with no DRS in play, some batters didn’t get the lifeline they probably needed. The hosts were all out before reaching 150, and let’s be real; it could’ve been worse.

Matt Henry 6-39 v Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

Scorecard | https://t.co/lOpzEbMrfi #ZIMvNZ #CricketNation
📷 = Zimbabwe Cricket pic.twitter.com/OZ6mIJB7Y1

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 30, 2025

Then came the Kiwi openers, Devon Conway and Will Young, who made batting look like a casual Sunday stroll. They knocked off 92 runs in just 26 overs without breaking a sweat. Conway already has a 50 to his name, and Young is cruising on 41*. The pitch doesn’t seem to be doing much, and with the Zimbabwean bowlers looking short on answers, Day 2 could get ugly for the home side unless they find some serious magic.

Devon Conway (51*) and Will Young (41*) bat through to the end of Day 1.
Catch up on the scorecard | https://t.co/lOpzEbMrfi Highlights will be available on ThreeNow 📺 #ZIMvNZ #CricketNation 📷 = Zimbabwe Cricket pic.twitter.com/DEGPjoxntk

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 30, 2025

ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test – Match Details

ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test – Possible Squad List

Note：The match has not started yet, but updates will be provided regularly once it begins.

You can also click here to view the full Test schedules

ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test – Nine years ago, New Zealand thrashed Zimbabwe by 254 runs.

Yes, both teams did play a Test match at Queen’s 9 years ago, and during that match, New Zealand posted a massive 582 runs in their first innings, losing just four wickets. Out of these four wickets, two players scored centuries. On the other hand, Zimbabwe had only their current captain Craig Ervine scoring a century, and as you can imagine, they ended up losing the game.

ZIM vs NZ – Can the evolved Zimbabwe team perform differently than they did nine years ago?

While Zimbabwe has been improving, their progress is slow due to limited resources. With few ICC full members, their opportunities for Test matches are scarce. Even though veterans like Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, and Blessing Muzarabani remain, players like Dion Myers, Nick Welch, and Tafadzwa Tsiga have less than 10 Test caps, so they are still inexperienced. Despite new players and veteran experience, the team’s overall strength hasn’t changed much. So, yes, it will be different this time, but Zimbabwe will still lose. The margin of defeat, however, might shrink.

ZIM vs NZ – New Zealand’s first Test of 2025

Most Test matches this year have been focused on the top four ranked teams, so New Zealand hasn’t played yet. However, as the 5th-ranked team, the gap between New Zealand and Zimbabwe is huge. Nine years ago, New Zealand won by 254 runs. Even though New Zealand hasn’t played any Tests in 2025, they will still dominate Zimbabwe. Remember, at the end of 2024, New Zealand played series against England and India—they lost to England 1-2 but whitewashed India 3-0. So, despite no Tests this year, I don’t think Zimbabwe stands a chance of winning even a single game.

Zimbabwe’s recent Test match performance

New Zealand’s recent Test match performance

ZIM vs NZ 2025 1st Test – Venue History&Analysis: Queen’s Sports Club Cricket Ground

Stadium Capacity: Around 10,000 spectators

Stadium Address: Queen’s Sports Club Cricket Ground, Queen’s Road, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

About the Stadium:

Queen’s Sports Club Cricket Ground, established in the 1890s, has a rich history of over 120 years and is one of the most important and beloved cricket venues in Zimbabwe. Initially, the ground was built not just to provide a space for local residents to engage in sports, but more significantly, it was influenced by British colonial culture. During that time, cricket was extremely popular in the region, and even today, it remains one of the most cherished sports in the country. Though Queen’s was built early, it wasn’t until 1990 that it hosted its first official international match. And Zimbabwe officially became a full member of the ICC in 1992, making it the 10th nation to join.

This might confuse some cricket fans, as you may wonder why Zimbabwe hosted international matches before becoming an ICC member. The main reason was that Zimbabwe’s cricketing strength was already recognised internationally. Queen’s Sports Club was well-equipped for such events, and ICC’s membership process was more flexible at the time. Therefore, Zimbabwe was allowed to host matches before officially joining. While it might seem unusual now, Zimbabwe’s cricketing capabilities were undeniable back then, especially with world-class players like Andy Flower and Henry Olonga.

All New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe Match:

• ZIM vs NZ 2025 2nd Test – Will Santner’s Shadow Loom Over Zimbabwe Again After 9 Years?