New Zealand Crush Zimbabwe to Seal 2-0 Series Win, Record Biggest Innings Victory in Their History

New Zealand wrapped up the second Test in Bulawayo inside three days, thrashing Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs to complete a 2-0 series sweep. This is the Black Caps’ largest innings victory in their Test history and the third-largest in the history of the game.

Only England’s innings-and-579-run win over Australia in 1938 and Australia’s innings-and-360-run win over South Africa in 2002 stand above it.

Batting first, New Zealand piled on the runs with centuries from Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Henry Nicholls, securing a massive 476-run lead. The bowlers then took charge to dismantle Zimbabwe in both innings.

Debutant pacer Zakary Folks made an immediate impact, taking 5 wickets in the second innings and finishing with match figures of 9 for 75 — the best bowling figures by a New Zealander on Test debut. Matt Henry, who claimed 5 wickets in the first innings, was outstanding throughout the series, taking 16 wickets at an average of just 9.12 to win the Player of the Series award. Conway’s superb 153 earned him the Player of the Match honour.

Under stand-in captain Mitchell Santner, New Zealand had earlier won the first Test by nine wickets. This Test triumph follows their unbeaten run to the T20 tri-series title, where they beat South Africa in the final.