New Zealand thrash Zimbabwe by innings and 359 runs

BULAWAYO: New Zealand brutally crushed Zimbabwe by winning the secondt est by an innings and 359 runs on the third day at Queens Sports Club on Saturday.

Resuming with a first-innings lead after scoring a mammoth 601 for three declared — built on centuries from Devon Conway (153), Rachin Ravindra (165 not out) and Henry Nicholls (150 not out) — the Kiwis thrashed the Rhinos’s batting line-up in both innings.

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Matt Henry spearheaded the first innings, claiming 5-40, while debutant Zak Foulkes took 4-38 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 125. Brendan Taylor’s 44 was the only substantial resistance.

The hosts crumbled like a house of cards again for 117 in just 28.1 overs. Nick Welch’s 47 was a lone stand, with Foulkes returning to grab another five wickets in the match. He finished with 5-37 in the second innings.

Jacob Duffy and Matt Fisher chipped in with two and one wicket respectively.

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Henry was named player of the match for his incisive spells, which set up New Zealand’s biggest-ever win by an innings in Test cricket.

The heavy defeat underlined the gulf between the two sides, with Zimbabwe struggling against New Zealand’s relentless attack.