By the end of day two in Bulawayo, New Zealand had really put themselves in the driver’s seat. They managed to get rid of both Zimbabwe openers late in the evening, wrapping up Friday’s play with a solid lead of 127.
Zimbabwe closed on 31 for 2 in their second innings, still trailing by 127, after being bowled out for 149 on the opening day. New Zealand’s total of 307 owed much to a gritty 80 from Daryl Mitchell, who anchored the innings when the top order faltered.
The visitors began the morning at 92 without loss, but Blessing Muzarabani struck immediately. His first delivery of the day bounced sharply and forced Will Young into a fended shot that flew to Nick Welch at short leg. The catch was checked by the TV umpire before being confirmed, giving Zimbabwe an ideal start.
Devon Conway responded with fluent stroke play, repeatedly driving through cover as the seamers targeted him from around the wicket. He reached 88 before falling to Tanaka Chivanga after lunch, miscuing an uppercut to gully. Henry Nicholls, returning to the Test side, added 42 and crossed 3,000 career runs but was dismissed by Muzarabani during a five-wicket slide that saw New Zealand slump from 158 for 1 to 200 for 6.
Rachin Ravindra edged Sikandar Raza to slip, Tom Blundell pulled Chivanga straight to deep square leg, and Michael Bracewell top-edged a short ball to the diving wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga. For a brief period, Zimbabwe’s bowlers seized control with disciplined lines and well-directed short-pitched bowling.
Mitchell, though, steadied the innings alongside Mitchell Santner and later Nathan Smith. He reached his half-century and shepherded the tail to push New Zealand past 300. Smith faced 79 balls, scoring 22 and wearing a couple on the body, before retiring hurt. Mitchell eventually fell attempting an improvised scoop, bowled by Newman Nyamhuri for 80.
New Zealand’s bowlers then struck quickly. Matt Henry had Ben Curran caught on the hook, and Will O’Rourke removed Brian Bennett with an edge to the wicketkeeper. At stumps, Zimbabwe were 31 for 2, with Bennett on 18 and the deficit still significant.
Day three will test Zimbabwe’s resilience. Their top order faces the challenge of batting long against an attack that has already shown it can extract seam and bounce from this Bulawayo surface.
