New Zealand crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs in Bulawayo, securing one of the largest victories in Test history.
Their victory helped New Zealand register the third-highest margin of victory in the history of Test cricket.
England’s monumental victory by an innings and 579 runs against Australia at The Oval in 1938 remains the largest in Test cricket history. Australia follows with their impressive innings and 360-run win over South Africa in Johannesburg in 2002. New Zealand’s win by an innings and 359-run victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2025 is third on that list, while the West Indies recorded an innings and 336-run win against India in Kolkata during the 1958/59 series is now fourth.
The tone was set on Day 1 when Craig Ervine’s decision to bat first backfired spectacularly. On a surface offering just enough for the bowlers, Zimbabwe collapsed for 125 inside 50 overs. Brendan Taylor marked his return to Test cricket with a fighting 44, and Tafadzwa Tsiga contributed 33, but there was little else of substance. Debutant Zakary Foulkes impressed with four wickets, while Matt Henry tore through the lineup with his second five-for of the series. By stumps, New Zealand’s openers had already erased the deficit and moved into the lead with ease.
