New Zealand have taken complete control of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo with a commanding batting performance after dismissing the hosts for just 125 in their first innings. The visitors’ bowlers set the tone early, with Matt Henry claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul and debutant Zakary Foulkes making an instant impact. Zimbabwe struggled to build partnerships, and their innings folded inside 49 overs. In response, New Zealand’s top order produced a record-breaking display on Day 2, piling up 601 for 3 in 130 overs to take a massive first-innings lead of 476 runs. The innings was highlighted by a rare feat — three batters scoring 150-plus in the same Test innings. Devon Conway led the charge with a fluent 153, combining patience and attacking strokes to wear down the bowlers. Henry Nicholls remained unbeaten on 150, providing stability through the middle overs, while Rachin Ravindra played the most aggressive knock, smashing an unbeaten 165 and dominating the Zimbabwean attack. The trio’s dominance saw New Zealand match a world record for most 150-plus scores in a single innings, underlining their batting depth. Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiled without much success, struggling to find movement or exploit the pitch. With such a huge lead and plenty of time left in the match, New Zealand are poised to push for an innings victory. Zimbabwe now face a daunting task to avoid defeat and will need a dramatic turnaround in their second innings to keep the series alive.
