Matt HenryCricket Match ReportsCricket NewsInternational MatchesLatest Cricket UpdatesNew Zealand Cricket NewsNew Zealand CricketersNew Zealand vs ZimbabweTestTest CricketTest Cricket UpdatesTest Match UpdatesZimbabwe cricketersZimbabwe national cricket team news
Matt Henry’s Five-Wicket Masterclass Puts New Zealand in Control Against Zimbabwe on Day One
Dominant Start for the Black Caps in Bulawayo
New Zealand took complete command on the opening day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, thanks to a sensational five-wicket haul from Matt Henry and an impressive four-wicket debut from Zakary Foulkes. The hosts were bowled out for just 125 runs in 48.5 overs, before the Black Caps’ top order piled on the pressure with a commanding 174/1 by stumps.
Brendan Taylor, making a return to Test cricket after more than three years, stood tall with a gritty knock of 44, but once he fell, Zimbabwe collapsed dramatically — losing six wickets for just 42 runs.
Henry and Foulkes Rattle Zimbabwe’s Batting Order
Early Breakthroughs Set the Tone
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine chose to bat first on a dry surface, but his side was immediately on the back foot. Henry’s opening spell was relentless, claiming Brian Bennett with a peach of an outswinger and trapping Nick Welch LBW with a sharp nip-backer.
Debutant Zakary Foulkes quickly made an impact, removing Sean Williams with a delivery that straightened off the seam before dismissing Ervine just before lunch, leaving the home side struggling at 67/4.
Taylor’s Resistance and the Rapid Collapse
Brendan Taylor attempted to steady the innings, mixing patient defence with occasional strokes through the covers. However, his dismissal to a loose shot outside off — caught behind off Henry — triggered a rapid lower-order collapse.
Foulkes struck twice in the same over, removing Sikandar Raza with a sharp leg-gully catch and trapping Trevor Gwandu LBW with an in-ducker. Henry then returned to claim Vincent Masekesa and Blessing Muzarabani with late swing, completing his five-for.
Matthew Fischer added his name to the wickets column, claiming his maiden Test wicket when Tanaka Chivanga holed out to mid-off.
New Zealand Openers Take Charge
Fluent Partnership from Young and Conway
In reply, Will Young and Devon Conway batted with authority, adding a 162-run stand for the first wicket. Young scored a fluent 74 off 94 balls, bringing up his fifty in just 49 deliveries. He was given a reprieve immediately after, when Sikandar Raza spilled a tough chance at mid-wicket.
Conway, playing the anchor role, reached his half-century off 81 balls and survived a couple of scares — including a dropped catch by Ervine and a close LBW review.
Gwandu eventually broke the stand late in the day, with Young under-edging a pull shot to the keeper. By stumps, Conway was unbeaten on 79, with New Zealand firmly in the driver’s seat.
Brief Scores
-
Zimbabwe: 125 all out (Brendan Taylor 44; Matt Henry 5-40, Zakary Foulkes 4-38)
-
New Zealand: 174/1 (Will Young 74, Devon Conway 79*) — NZ lead by 49 runs
Related Reading
