The Zimbabwe cricket team suffered a mammoth defeat against New Zealand in the 2nd match of the 2-Test series in Bulawayo. The match got over inside three days as Zimbabwe were no match for a sturdy New Zealand side. Zimbabwe posted 125/10 in the 1st innings with New Zealand then getting to a rapid 601/3 at stumps on Day 2. Mitchell Santner’s side declared on Day 3 morning, sending Zimbabwe to bat, who were trailing by 476 runs. The hosts were once again sorry with the bat. They perished for a paltry 117 runs in 28.1 overs.
Debutant Zakary Foulkes starred for New Zealand with a fifer in the 3rd innings. He finished with 9 scalps in the match (9/75).
This is now Zimbabwe’s biggest defeat in Test cricket (by runs). Zimbabwe lost the match by an innings and 359 runs as the Kiwis took the series 2-0.
As per ESPNcricinfo, Zimbabwe’s previous biggest defeat in Test cricket came in the year 2012 versus New Zealand in Napier. The African side lost that match by an innings and 301 runs. New Zealand scored 495/7d before blowing Zimbabwe away – 51 and 143.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have lost by an innings and 250-plus runs on two other occasions in Tests. In 2005, they lost to New Zealand by an innings and 294 runs in Harare. Before that, they suffered a massive defeat against Sri Lanka in 2004, losing by an innings and 254 runs in Bulawayo.
Biggest defeats for Zimbabwe in Tests (by runs):
- An innings and 359 runs vs New Zealand, Bulawayo, 2025
- An innings and 301 runs vs New Zealand, Napier, 2012
- An innings and 294 runs vs New Zealand, Harare, 2005
- An innings and 254 runs vs Sri Lanka, Bulawayo, 2004
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