ZIM VS NZ 2ND TEST

You’ve got to feel for the hosts, though. There were glimpses of resistance. Taylor’s composure, Tsiga’s fight down the order, but they never quite stitched together a phase that could tilt the balance. Against a side as clinical as New Zealand, those gaps in conviction proved costly. Well then, a solid platform has been formed by the Kiwi openers, and come Day 2, their aim will be to stretch their lead far away from the hosts' reach, whereas Zimbabwe's immediate aim will be to snag a couple of early wickets to disrupt the momentum of the tourists. It is all set up for Day 2. Play resumes on Friday, 8th August, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 8 am GMT. Join us then. But for now, you can simply switch tabs to follow all the live action from The Hundred Women's Competition and can also follow the Men's game later. From here, we sign off. Cheers, take care!

Ervine even tried spin from one end, but that too proved ineffective, barring the odd one turning and a couple of close LBW appeals that were turned down. However, it was surprising to see Sikandar Raza not being utilised in those spin overs, even once. The difference between the two sides? Conviction. With both bat and ball. Where New Zealand were clinical in both departments, Zimbabwe had a long, frustrating day. However, in the final minutes of the day's play, Zimbabwe finally got their first breakthrough as Young chopped one back into the stumps, off Gwandu.

The Kiwi openers began with intent, finding early boundaries that immediately put Zimbabwe on the defensive. The hosts struggled with their lengths, often bowling too short or too full, and failing to challenge the bat. While Blessing Muzarabani managed to extract some extra bounce early on, it lacked bite. Will Young and Devon Conway capitalised, batting fluently and erasing more than half the deficit within the first hour of the final session. Both batters eased into their fifties as the bowling continued to lack discipline and penetration. With little resistance on offer, New Zealand cruised into the lead without breaking stride, turning the final session into a one-sided affair.

New Zealand continued to press down hard in the second session, never letting Zimbabwe settle. Once Zakary Foulkes dismissed Brendan Taylor, the innings unravelled quickly. From 83/4, Zimbabwe collapsed to 100/9 in no time. Tafadzwa Tsiga showed some fight with a composed 33, and found brief support from Chivanga as the last-wicket pair added 25 runs. But the resistance was short-lived, and the hosts were bundled out for 125. Matt Henry led the charge with a clinical five-wicket haul, while Foulkes capped a dream debut with four scalps, including the prized wickets of Raza, Ervine, and Williams.

New Zealand’s pacers dominated the morning session with relentless discipline and an evident lateral movement off the surface. Zakary Foulkes impressed on debut, claiming the key wicket of Sean Williams and later removing Craig Ervine with a peach just as a partnership was brewing. Matt Henry set the tone early, striking in the third over and keeping Zimbabwe under pressure throughout. Brendan Taylor offered good resistance with a steady 44, but wickets at regular intervals left Zimbabwe reeling at 67/4 by lunch.

A job well done by New Zealand, first with the ball and then with the bat. They have dominated the proceedings from start to finish on this opening day, offering no window of opportunity for the hosts to claw their way into the contest. The score of 125, in all fairness, was never enough, on a surface where batting was made to look like a stroll by the Kiwi openers.

Safely negotiated by Jacob Duffy! Fired in, full and at the stumps from around the wicket, Jacob is solid in defence. That will be STUMPS on Day 1!

FOUR! Tossed up by Sean, on off, fuller in length, Duffy plants his front foot forward and drives it to the left of mid off. Tanaka Chivanga goes after it and bends to flick the ball away from the fence but the ball wins the race.

Keeps it flat and short, on off, Duffy goes on the back foot and taps it back to Sean.

Shorter and on off, Duffy pushes it to cover.

Angled into the pads, on a length, Jacob defends it well.

Short and on middle, Devon Conway goes on the back foot and wrists it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Last over the day? Possibly so. Sean Williams (7-0-18-0) to wrap up.

Drags the length back, short and wide on off, Jacob Duffy reaches out and cuts it to backward point.

FOUR! Gets it through! Looped up, too full, around off, Duffy drives it sweetly between cover and point for a boundary.

Fuller and on off, Jacob Duffy gets forward and pushes it back to the bowler.

This slides down leg, on a length, Jacob Duffy shapes up to tickle it fine but misses.

Full and on middle, Devon clips it with the spin to deep mid-wicket and takes the single.