The second Test match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand is being played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The first day is over, and it went fully in New Zealand’s favour. First, their bowlers did well. Then, the batters also played strongly. By the end of the day, New Zealand took a lead of 49 runs.
Brendan Taylor scored 44 runs with 6 fours in 107 balls. Tafadzwa Siiga was not out on 33 runs from 54 balls, but he could not help the team reach a good total.
For New Zealand, Matt Henry took 5 wickets for 40 runs in 15 overs. Jack Faulks took 4 wickets for 38 runs in 16 overs. Matthew Fisher took 1 wicket.
Zimbabwe in Trouble Again, New Zealand Start Strong
This is an important match for Zimbabwe. They lost the first Test by 9 wickets on the same ground. In that match, Zimbabwe scored only 149 runs in the first innings. Matt Henry took 6 wickets. New Zealand made 307 runs in reply and got a lead of 158 runs.
In the second innings, Zimbabwe made only 165 runs. New Zealand needed just 8 runs to win and they scored it in 2.2 overs. New Zealand now lead the series 1-0. If this match is a draw, New Zealand will still win the series. Zimbabwe must win to make it 1-1.
In this match, Zimbabwe batters failed again. Nick Welch and Sean Williams scored 11 runs each. Captain Craig Ervine made 7 runs. Sikandar Raza scored 5 runs. Brian Bennett and Trevor Gwandu scored 0. Vincent Masekesa made 1 run, Blessing Muzarabani made 3, and Tanaka Chivanga made 4 runs.
New Zealand started very well. Devon Conway and Will Young made a 162-run partnership. Gwandu got Will Young out for 74 runs from 101 balls, with 11 fours. At stumps, Conway is not out on 79 runs and Jacob Duffy is on 8 runs. New Zealand will try to score big on Day 2.
Matt Henry has taken 14 wickets in 3 innings so far in the series. He has given only 130 runs, which means he takes one wicket every 9 runs.