New Zealand took a firm grip on the first Test against Zimbabwe as Matt Henry’s outstanding 6-39 tore through the hosts' batting on Day 1 at the Queens Sports Club on Wednesday. After bowling Zimbabwe out for just 149, the BlackCaps reached 92 without loss at stumps, with openers Devon Conway (51)* and Will Young (41)* looking untroubled.
Returning to Test cricket for the first time this season, Henry delivered a masterclass in pace bowling to register his fifth five-wicket haul, ably supported by Nathan Smith, who bagged 3-20 in a dominant opening-day performance by the visitors.
Obviously, a great day of Test cricket for us. Getting back into the whites, I was really happy with how the bowlers went about their work. It was a pretty clinical performance.
Early Strikes Set the Tone
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine opted to bat first, but the decision quickly backfired. Henry struck in just the third over, removing Brian Bennett with a sharp delivery outside off that was edged to Will Young at slip. He soon followed up with the scalps of Ben Curren and Nick Welch, reducing Zimbabwe to 67/4 by lunch.
We created pressure from both ends, and thankfully it went my way today. We just trusted that if we put the ball in the right area, things would happen.
Post-lunch, Zimbabwe’s hopes of a recovery were dashed as Henry removed senior batter Sikandar Raza before mopping up the tail, dismissing debutant Newman Nyamhuri and Blessing Muzarabani to complete his six-for. His figures marked the third-best innings return of his Test career, after his 7-67 against Australia and 7-23 versus South Africa.
Smith provided excellent support from the other end, claiming the crucial wickets of Craig Ervine (39), who was the top scorer for Zimbabwe, and Tafadzwa Tsiga (30), both falling leg-before. Six Zimbabwe batters failed to reach double digits in a disappointing display that lasted just 60.3 overs.
Conway, Young Unfazed in Response
In reply, New Zealand openers Conway and Young ensured there were no early hiccups. Though briefly tested by Zimbabwe’s teenage debutant Nyamhuri and the spin of Raza, both batters looked composed and confident.
Conway brought up his 12th Test half-century off 83 deliveries, striking eight boundaries, while Young patiently accumulated runs from the other end. Their unbroken 92-run stand put the visitors in a commanding position, trailing by just 57 runs with all ten wickets in hand.
With regular skipper Tom Latham sidelined due to injury, Mitchell Santner led New Zealand for the first time in a Test and marshalled his bowlers to good effect.
Looking Ahead
With a strong platform set, New Zealand will look to bat Zimbabwe out of the game on Day 2. Given their dominance with the ball and the solidity of their openers, the visitors are in a prime position to dictate terms for the remainder of the Test.
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 149 all out in 60.3 overs (Craig Ervine 39, Tsiga 30; Matt Henry 6-39, Nathan Smith 3-20) New Zealand 92/0 in 26 overs (Devon Conway 51, Will Young 41*).
