What a day it’s been for New Zealand cricket fans at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo! On August 8, 2025, the Black Caps put on a batting masterclass, piling up an imposing 601 for 3 at stumps on Day Two of the second Test against Zimbabwe. With three days left and a 476-run first-innings lead, New Zealand look to be in complete control, while Zimbabwe’s bowlers are left searching for answers on a pitch that’s offered them precious little.
This was a day for the record books. For only the third time in Test cricket history, three batters crossed the 150-run mark in the same innings. Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Henry Nicholls were the architects of this historic feat, each notching up massive centuries and barely giving Zimbabwe’s attack a sniff. The trio’s efforts also powered New Zealand to their highest-ever Test total against Zimbabwe—a stat that surely stings for the hosts.
Let’s start with Devon Conway. Resuming on 87 overnight, Conway wasted no time making his intentions clear. The first ball of the morning was short and wide, and Conway sent it racing to the boundary—a sign of things to come. His partnership with nightwatchman Jacob Duffy proved invaluable, as the pair added 62 runs for the second wicket. Duffy, not to be overshadowed, batted with grit for 30 runs, holding up one end while Conway pressed on for his fifth Test century. Conway eventually brought up his milestone off 143 balls, marking his first red-ball hundred in over two years and pushing his career tally past 2000 Test runs. That’s no small achievement, considering his previous century came back in January 2023 against Pakistan in Karachi.
Jacob Duffy’s contribution may not leap off the scorecard, but don’t underestimate its significance. He survived for 13.2 overs on the second morning, almost the entire first hour, before falling to Vincent Masekesa. Duffy’s resilience allowed Conway to play with freedom and set the tone for what would become a day of relentless run-scoring. According to match reports, Duffy’s partnership with Conway gave New Zealand the platform they needed to build their mammoth total.
Once Duffy departed, Henry Nicholls strode to the crease—a man with a point to prove. After being left out of the Test XI for all of 2024, Nicholls grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He started slowly, scoring just nine runs off his first 25 balls, but a well-timed boundary off a full toss from Masekesa got him going. Nicholls was especially effective against spin, racking up 96 runs off Zimbabwe’s four slow bowlers. By lunch, New Zealand were 306 for 2, already boasting a 181-run lead and showing no signs of slowing down.
Conway’s innings eventually ended at 153 when he misjudged a back-of-a-length delivery from Blessing Muzarabani. The ball ricocheted off his body and onto the stumps—a rare moment of joy for the Zimbabweans. But if they thought that would spark a collapse, they were sorely mistaken. Nicholls, now well set, kept the scoreboard ticking, and Rachin Ravindra joined in to turn the screws even tighter.
Ravindra’s innings was a revelation. He started cautiously, scoring just seven runs off his first 13 balls, but soon shifted gears in spectacular fashion. By the time he brought up his third Test century—off just 104 balls, his fastest yet—he had completely seized the momentum. Ravindra’s strokeplay was a joy to watch, peppering the boundary with drives, cuts, and pulls. He and Nicholls put together a mammoth 256-run partnership, taking New Zealand from a position of strength to one of utter dominance. By stumps, Ravindra was unbeaten on 165, and Nicholls was still there on 150, both looking hungry for even more runs.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers, meanwhile, had a day they’ll want to forget. Seven different bowlers were used, but only Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, and Vincent Masekesa managed to claim wickets—and all three paid a heavy price, each conceding over 100 runs. The pitch offered little assistance, and the New Zealand batters were ruthless in exploiting every loose delivery. Muzarabani, for instance, toiled for 101 runs for his solitary wicket, while Gwandu and Masekesa also suffered triple-digit punishment. The rest of Zimbabwe’s attack, including their spinners, found it tough to even trouble the batsmen.
By tea, New Zealand’s lead had ballooned to 302 runs, and the final session saw the Kiwis accelerate further, adding 88 runs in the last 11 overs of the day. Both Ravindra and Nicholls reached 150, joining Conway in an exclusive club and making cricketing history in the process. As the sun set over Bulawayo, the scoreboard told a story of complete domination: 601 for 3 after 130 overs, with three days still to play.
For Zimbabwe, the challenge now is not just to avoid defeat, but to restore some pride. Their bowlers looked weary after sending down 130 overs—91 of them on the second day alone—and the fielders had few opportunities to celebrate. The only real highlight was a sharp catch by Brian Bennett to dismiss Duffy, but moments like that were few and far between. With the pitch flattening out and the New Zealand batters in imperious form, Zimbabwe’s hopes of a comeback look slim.
With New Zealand already 1-0 up in this two-match series, they’re in pole position to secure a clean sweep. The selectors will be thrilled with the performances of Ravindra, Conway, and Nicholls, all of whom have given them plenty to ponder ahead of the next World Test Championship cycle. The depth and resilience of New Zealand’s batting lineup was on full display, and with plenty of batting still to come, they might just be eyeing an even bigger total before declaring.
As for the hosts, they’ll need to dig deep and find a way to stem the flow of runs when play resumes. The odds are stacked against them, but cricket has a way of springing surprises. Still, with three days left and a mountain to climb, Zimbabwe’s focus may well shift to damage limitation and salvaging some positives from a tough contest.
Stumps on Day Two finds New Zealand sitting pretty at 601 for 3, their batters rewriting records and their bowlers resting up for the next phase. The action is far from over in Bulawayo, but one thing’s for sure: the Black Caps have thrown down a mighty gauntlet, and Zimbabwe face an uphill battle to stay in the fight.
