At the Queens Sports Club here on Saturday, New Zealand crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs to completing a 2-0 series sweep, recording their biggest-ever Test triumph. In the lengthier version, the crushing loss is also Zimbabwe’s most significant loss.
Zakary Foulkes, a debutant pacer, took five wickets and now owns the record for the most figures by a New Zealand bowler on Test debut after New Zealand declared their first innings at 601/3 in 130 overs at the beginning of the third day of play.
In their second innings, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 117, with wickets from senior seamer Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Matt Fisher. Henry finished a fantastic series with 16 wickets and will now play for Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
Nick Welch, who entered the game during the first over of Zimbabwe’s second innings and had to score all by himself while watching wickets fall all around him, provided the only opposition for the country by staying undefeated at 47.
Brendan Taylor was removed from the pacer by an outswinger, while Henry castled Brian Bennett with an inswinger in the opening over. Craig Ervine nicked off in the cordon off Fisher, while Sean Williams received a leading edge from Duffy, who finished with a straightforward caught and bowled dismissal.
The short ball once again caused problems for all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who gifted a catch to Gully off Foulkes. The fact that none of Zimbabwe’s lower-order hitters reached double figures further hurt their chances.
Duffy overstepped at the crease and was given a no-ball, which prevented him from securing the victory for New Zealand early. However, the finish came quickly after, when Duffy had Tanaka Chivanga caught at gully to give New Zealand a decisive victory.
With South Africa as the third team, the Mitchell Santner-led Black Caps, who had won the previous T20I Tri-series, completed a great tour with the decisive victory in the Test match.
Brief scores:
Zimbabwe 125 and 117 in 28.1 overs (Nick Welch 47, Craig Ervine 17; Zakary Foulkes 5-37, Matt Henry 2-16) lost to New Zealand 601/3 dec in 130 overs (Rachin Ravindra 165 not out, Devon Conway 153, Henry Nicholls 150 not out; Blessing Muzarabani 1-101) by an innings and 359 runs