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Matt Henry’s Fiery Six-Fer Puts New Zealand in Command Against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo Test
New Zealand Dominate Opening Day as Zimbabwe Collapse for 149
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry produced a sensational spell of seam bowling, grabbing 6 for 39, to put his side in a commanding position on Day 1 of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Supported ably by Nathan Smith with 3 for 20, Henry’s six-wicket haul demolished Zimbabwe’s batting lineup as they were bundled out for just 149 runs.
Henry’s Early Strikes Set the Tone
Early Collapse Rattles Zimbabwe’s Top Order
From the outset, Zimbabwe struggled against the disciplined and probing lines of the Kiwi seamers. Matt Henry made immediate inroads, dismissing Brian Bennett and Ben Curran—both caught at third slip—through sharp movement and smart variation in angles.
Nathan Smith soon joined the attack, claiming the prized scalp of Sean Williams, who chopped one onto his stumps for just 2. This left the hosts reeling at 31/3 inside the first session of the day.
Mid-Order Resistance Falters Under Pressure
Brief Fight from Ervine and Welch
Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine and batter Nick Welch attempted to mount a recovery. The pair added some stability with a steady stand, but the revival was short-lived. Welch fell to Henry after edging one to second slip, while Sikandar Raza departed soon after, gloving a short ball to keeper Tom Blundell.
Ervine (30) and Tafadzwa Tsiga added a vital 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Nathan Smith struck again, trapping Ervine leg before just as Zimbabwe threatened to cross the 150-run mark.
Tail Crumbles, New Zealand’s Openers Take Control
Henry Completes Six-Wicket Masterclass
With the lower order offering little resistance, Henry polished off the tail, removing Newman Nyamhuri and Blessing Muzarabani. Captain Mitchell Santner, leading the side in the absence of Tom Latham, held onto a smart catch to dismiss Muzarabani, wrapping up Zimbabwe’s innings inside three sessions.
Conway and Young Lead Strong Reply
In response, New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Will Young looked in complete control. They added 92 unbeaten runs by stumps, with Conway reaching a fluent 51 (8 fours)* and Young finishing on *41. The duo wiped out a large portion of the deficit and placed the visitors firmly in control.
This Test match comes as part of New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to strengthening their bench with fresh talent like Nathan Smith and others. Smith’s impact, alongside Henry’s masterclass, shows promising signs for the visitors ahead of future challenges.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, continue to face challenges in the longest format, and their batting frailties have once again come to the fore. Without a significant second-innings effort, the hosts risk an innings defeat.
For readers interested in the official scorecards and match statistics, refer to the official ICC Test match center.
📌 Brief Scores Summary
Zimbabwe 149 (Craig Ervine 30, Tafadzwa Tsiga 30; Matt Henry 6-39, Nathan Smith 3-20)
New Zealand 92/0 (Devon Conway 51, Will Young 41)**, trail by 57 runs at Stumps, Day 1.
