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Shoaib Bashir’s Nine-Wicket Haul Powers England to Commanding Victory Over Zimbabwe in One-Off Test
Bashir Spins a Web at Trent Bridge as England Triumph by an Innings
England started their home Test season with a statement-making innings and 45-run victory over Zimbabwe in the one-off Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The match was headlined by young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who returned with sensational figures of 6 for 81 in the second innings, finishing with match figures of 9 for 143. His crafty off-spin proved too much for Zimbabwe, who fell short despite brave efforts from Sean Williams (88) and Sikandar Raza (60) in their second innings.
This emphatic win showcased England’s depth and dominance in red-ball cricket, and Bashir’s emergence as a genuine match-winner adds to their spin arsenal.
England’s Mammoth First Innings Lays the Foundation
Pope, Duckett, and Crawley Dismantle Zimbabwean Attack
England’s batting in the first innings was nothing short of a spectacle. The hosts posted a massive 565/6 declared, with Ollie Pope smashing 171, Ben Duckett contributing 140, and Zak Crawley scoring a fluent 124. Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiled hard, with Blessing Muzarabani being the pick, returning figures of 3 for 143.
The run avalanche created scoreboard pressure that Zimbabwe could never truly recover from, as they collapsed under the weight of England’s dominance with both bat and ball.
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Zimbabwe’s First Innings Resistance: Bennett’s Brilliance
Zimbabwe’s first innings was held together by a remarkable 139-run knock by Brian Bennett, supported by Craig Ervine’s 42. However, they were bowled out for 265, giving England a huge 300-run lead. Shoaib Bashir showed signs of things to come, claiming 3 wickets for 62 runs, while England’s pace battery controlled the flow of runs and created pressure.
Bashir’s Magic Unleashed in Second Innings
Williams and Raza Show Fight Before the Collapse
Following on, Zimbabwe began Day 3 positively. Ben Curran and Sean Williams added early runs, with Williams in particular dazzling with his cover drives and aggressive sweep shots. He reached his half-century in just 42 balls, showing positive intent throughout. Curran supported him well in a 122-run stand, frustrating the England bowlers in the first hour.
However, after Lunch, the game turned. Curran fell tamely to Bashir, chipping a simple catch to cover. From there, England clawed back into control.
Raza Resists, Bashir Rattles the Tail
Sikandar Raza, playing his natural aggressive game, notched his 10th Test half-century, putting on a solid 65-run partnership with Wessly Madhevere. But the return of skipper Ben Stokes to the attack worked wonders as he removed Madhevere with a cleverly disguised short ball.
Bashir came back and produced two top-class dismissals—Tsiga bowled through the gate, and Muzarabani caught at deep mid-wicket. The spinner continued weaving magic as he removed Raza with a top-edged sweep and finally Tanaka Chivanga LBW, sealing the match in England’s favour.
Match Summary
England: 565/6 decl.
(Ollie Pope 171, Ben Duckett 140, Zak Crawley 124; Blessing Muzarabani 3-143)
Zimbabwe: 265 & 255
(Brian Bennett 139, Sean Williams 88, Sikandar Raza 60; Shoaib Bashir 6-81, Ben Stokes 2-39)
Result: England won by an innings and 45 runs
What This Win Means for England
This win will boost England’s confidence ahead of the high-stakes Test series later this summer. Bashir’s nine-wicket haul is a major talking point, giving selectors a strong reason to back the young off-spinner for future home and away series. With their batting looking rock-solid and their spin options clicking, England’s red-ball setup appears more balanced than ever.
For Zimbabwe, there are positives despite the loss—Bennett’s ton, Williams’ class, and Raza’s grit—but consistency and batting depth remain areas to address.
