Introduction
The New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe 2025 starts with the second Test at Bulawayo's famous Queens Sports Club. New Zealand comes into the game with a lot of confidence after defeating Zimbabwe by a commanding 9 wickets in the first test. They hope to maintain their winning streak. This is another chance for the hosts to make a statement and improve their Test record against the Black Caps.
Match Details:
- Fixture: Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand – 2nd Test (NZ Leads 1-0)
- Date: August 7th–11th, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM UTC | 1:30 PM IST
- Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- Win Probability: Zimbabwe 6%, Draw 2%, New Zealand 92%
- Weather: Clear and sunny with temperatures between 12 and 27°C
Pitch & Weather Report – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Pitch Analysis:
Overall, the circumstances appear to favor spinners, especially from Day 3 on.
Seamers have also been having a good run here recently, especially with the new ball. As the match continues, anticipate slower conditions that will challenge stroke play.
Weather Forecast:
Clear skies with no rain expected.
Early morning chills, but highs around 27°C in the afternoon.
Toss Prediction:
Win toss and bat first—putting runs on the board remains crucial on this surface.
Zimbabwe – Team Preview & Predicted XI
Zimbabwe’s woes in red-ball cricket continued in the first Test, with the team folding cheaply in both innings. Having Brendan Taylor back after his long suspension is a big emotional and technical boost for the team. Going head-to-head with the Kiwis is tricky because their team simply doesn't have the depth.
Key Concerns:
Batting collapses remain a critical issue.
Inconsistent bowling despite flashes of promise.
Key Players to Watch:
Craig Ervine (c): Currently he leads from the front, but he needs to make big scores after getting starts.
Sean Williams: He needs to hold the batting order together while also bowling some useful spells.
Sikandar Raza: All-rounder whose impact with bat and ball is crucial.
Blessing Muzarabani: Zimbabwe’s most consistent pace threat.
Tanaka Chivanga: Showed promise in the first test with his pace and bounce.
Predicted Playing XI:
Brian Bennett
Ben Curran
Nick Welch
Sean Williams
Craig Ervine (c)
Sikandar Raza
Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk)
Newman Nyamhuri
Vincent Masekesa
Blessing Muzarabani
Tanaka Chivanga
New Zealand – Team Preview & Predicted XI
Despite missing some key players, including Tom Latham (injury) and Nathan Smith (abdominal strain), New Zealand’s dominance remains unaffected. Mitchell Santner takes over captaincy and will lead a balanced side that continues to set high standards in all departments.
Key Strengths:
Depth in both batting and bowling.
Well-rounded all-rounders.
Confidence and consistency in away tests.
Players to Watch:
Devon Conway: Scored a brilliant 88 in the first Test.
Daryl Mitchell: A middle-order rock, scored 80 in the last matches.
Matt Henry: 9 wickets in the first Test—lethal with the new and old ball.
Rachin Ravindra & Michael Bracewell: Key spinning options.
Zakary Foulkes & Ben Lister: Added for pace depth; Foulkes is likely to debut.
Predicted Playing XI:
Will Young
Devon Conway
Henry Nicholls
Rachin Ravindra
Daryl Mitchell
Tom Blundell (wk)
Michael Bracewell
Mitchell Santner (c)
Matt Henry
Zakary Foulkes
Ben Lister
Head-to-Head Stats – ZIM vs NZ (Tests)
Total Tests Played: 18
New Zealand Wins: 12
Zimbabwe Wins: 0
Draws: 6
Last 5 Matches: New Zealand has won all 5 convincingly, often by an inning or 9 wickets.
ZIM vs NZ – Key Battles to Watch
Craig Ervine vs. Jacob Duffy
Ervine needs to lead the charge but will face sharp swing and seam from Jacob Duffy.
Sikandar Raza vs. Matt Henry
Raza will need to counter the relentless accuracy of Henry, who picked 9 wickets in the first match.
Devon Conway vs. Blessing Muzarabani
Conway’s technique against pace will be tested again by Zimbabwe’s top quick.
Daryl Mitchell vs. Tanaka Chivanga
Mitchell’s ability to dominate spin and pace alike makes him a real threat.
Betting Tips & Predictions – ZIM vs NZ 2nd Test
Who Will Win the Match?
Prediction: New Zealand to win
The Black Caps are dominant, even with squad changes. Zimbabwe still lacks the batting quality to mount a serious challenge over five days.
Toss Winner:
Prediction: Zimbabwe. (But we still expect New Zealand to dominate regardless of the toss result.)
Top Batter:
Zimbabwe: Sean Williams
New Zealand: Henry Nicholls
Top Bowler:
Zimbabwe: Tanaka Chivanga
New Zealand: Matt Henry
Most Sixes:
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza
New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra
Player of the Match:
- Matt Henry—Leading the pace attack with precision and aggression.
- Projected Team Totals:
- New Zealand (1st Innings): 300+
- Zimbabwe (1st Innings): 180+
Current Winning Odds from Stake.com
Final Thoughts on Backing New Zealand to Sweep the Series 2-0
Aiming for another away clean sweep, New Zealand heads into the second Test as the strong favorites. Zimbabwe will need something truly extraordinary to change the narrative of this lopsided rivalry. Look out for the performances of Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry, who continue to be standout performers.
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