Bulawayo, July 30, 2025 – The opening day of the first Test between New Zealand and Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo was completely owned by Matt Henry, who ripped through Zimbabwe’s batting line-up with a magnificent six-wicket haul. His fiery spell put New Zealand firmly in control of the match.
After Zimbabwe opted to bat first on a dry Bulawayo pitch, they struggled from the outset. Matt Henry, backed by sharp support from Nathan Smith—who took three wickets—led a disciplined Kiwi bowling attack that never allowed the hosts to settle. Zimbabwe were eventually dismissed for a paltry 149.
Henry’s relentless pace and precision made him unplayable at times, and Zimbabwe’s batters found themselves repeatedly beaten or edging behind. The only resistance came from brief partnerships—most notably between Craig Ervine and Tafadzwa Tsiga—but even those were short-lived. Captain Ervine’s unfortunate dismissal ended any hopes of a late fightback, and the tail offered little resistance.
In reply, New Zealand’s top order made a confident start. Will Young and Devon Conway batted with fluency and intent, taking advantage of the tiring Zimbabwean bowlers. Conway notched up a graceful half-century as the visitors reduced the first-innings deficit to just 57 runs by stumps.
With New Zealand yet to lose a wicket, Day 1 clearly belonged to Matt Henry, whose devastating performance set the tone for the Test. As the action resumes on Thursday morning, Zimbabwe will desperately need early breakthroughs to stay alive in this contest.
For now, all the praise goes to Matt Henry, who not only claimed the headlines in Bulawayo but also placed his side in a commanding position to push for a strong first-innings lead.