Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER a rough start with the bat on day one, Zimbabwe hit back hard with the ball on day two, dismissing New Zealand for 307 in the first Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The Chevrons couldn’t have asked for a better start. Blessing Muzarabani struck with the very first ball of the day, setting the tone for a gritty fightback that kept the match finely balanced.
New Zealand had resumed on 92 without loss, trailing by 57. By the third session, they were all out, leading by 158. At stumps, Zimbabwe were 31 for 2, still 127 runs behind, having lost both openers late in the day.
After a dominant 92-run opening stand on day one, New Zealand looked in charge, until Muzarabani had Will Young caught in the slips for his overnight 41 off 70 balls. That breakthrough sparked momentum for the hosts.
Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls steadied things briefly, adding 66 for the second wicket before Muzarabani struck again. He had Nicholls caught by Brian Bennett for 34 off 56, with the visitors on 158 for 2 and a narrow lead of nine runs.
Zimbabwe kept pushing. In the 48th over, Sikandar Raza removed Rachin Ravindra for just 2, with New Zealand at 163 for 3.
Tanaka Chivanga then joined the act. He dismissed Conway for 88 off 170 balls, New Zealand’s top scorer, who hit 12 boundaries, and followed up by removing Tom Blundell, caught by Sean Williams for 2 in the 57th over. New Zealand were wobbling at 181 for 5.
Muzarabani claimed his third when he had Michael Bracewell caught by Tafadzwa Tsiga for 9 off 23 deliveries.
A 33-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner offered brief resistance before Vincent Masekesa removed Santner, caught and bowled for 19.
Nathan Smith added 19 off 30 balls before retiring hurt after a 61-run stand with Mitchell. Williams then bowled Matt Henry for 5, and Newman Nyamhuri wrapped it up, bowling Mitchell for a solid 80 off 119.
After a disciplined showing with the ball, Zimbabwe faltered again with the bat, losing both openers inside the last half-hour.
Ben Curran was first to go, caught on the boundary off a short ball from Henry for 11 off 26. Zimbabwe were 25 for 1 at the end of the seventh over. Bennett followed soon after, caught behind for 18 off 21, off Will O’Rourke.
With the team on 29 for 2 after 7.5 overs and still trailing by 129, Vincent Masekesa came in as nightwatchman and saw out the final overs with Nick Welch.
Welch ended the day on 2 off 18, with Masekesa surviving 13 balls without scoring. With Zimbabwe still trailing by 127, all eyes will be on their middle order this morning as they look to close the gap and seize momentum.
Play resumes at 10 a.m. today for day three.
— @brandon_malvin
