New Zealand delivered a clinical performance on the opening day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, seizing control of the match with both ball and bat. Thanks to a dominant display by their bowlers, the Kiwis skittled out Zimbabwe for just 125 and responded strongly with the bat, ending the day with a 49-run first-innings lead.
The tone was set early by Matt Henry, who struck in just the third over, applying pressure that never really lifted throughout the day. Debutant Zakary Foulkes joined the action with an impressive spell of pace bowling, dismissing key players Sean Williams and Craig Ervine. The New Zealand bowlers exhibited superb control and movement off the pitch, making batting look far more difficult than it seemed when their own openers took the crease later in the day.
Brendan Taylor fought hard for Zimbabwe with a composed 44, but lacked consistent support. By lunch, the hosts were already in deep trouble at 67/4. The second session saw a rapid collapse, with Foulkes and Henry tearing through the lower order. From 83/4, Zimbabwe plunged to 100/9 in a matter of overs. Tafadzwa Tsiga’s late resistance (33 runs) and a brief 25-run stand for the last wicket offered a flicker of hope, but it was short-lived. Henry finished with a well-deserved five-wicket haul, while Foulkes capped off a memorable debut with four scalps—showcasing the depth of New Zealand’s Test bowling unit.
When it was their turn to bat, the Kiwi openers came out with positive intent. Will Young and Devon Conway looked composed and aggressive, punishing the Zimbabwean bowlers for their erratic lengths. While Blessing Muzarabani extracted some bounce, he found little support from the rest of the attack. Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to maintain consistent pressure, and by the end of the final session, New Zealand had not only erased the deficit but cruised past it with ease.
Zimbabwe did manage a late breakthrough when Young was bowled by Gwandu, but by then, the damage was done. The difference between the two sides was stark—New Zealand played with clinical precision, while Zimbabwe lacked cohesion. As Day 2 of this Test looms, the visitors hold all the momentum. Zimbabwe must regroup quickly if they are to mount any challenge in this fiercely contested Test match.