New Zealand’s Biggest Test Victory: Zakary Foulkes Shines in Historic Win Over Zimbabwe
New Zealand’s biggest Test win came after a dominant performance against Zimbabwe, led by debutant Zakary Foulkes. The visitors secured an innings and 359-run victory, their largest winning margin in history.
Foulkes’ Dream Debut and Bowling Masterclass
Zakary Foulkes claimed the best debut bowling figures for New Zealand in Tests, taking 9 for 75. Moreover, his inswingers ripped through Zimbabwe’s batting order. Matt Henry struck early, while Jacob Duffy’s bounce kept the pressure on. As a result, Zimbabwe fell for 117 in the second innings, lasting only 28.1 overs.
Total Domination with Bat and Ball
Earlier, New Zealand declared at 601 for 3. Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Henry Nicholls all made unbeaten centuries. Consequently, they built a 476-run lead before the bowlers took over. Zimbabwe’s batting collapse continued, with Nick Welch’s 47 the only highlight.
Furthermore, technical flaws appeared again. Brendan Taylor fell early, Sean Williams offered a soft edge, and Sikandar Raza struggled against the short ball. Therefore, the gulf in quality between the teams became even clearer.
Series Sweep and Next Challenges
This emphatic win completed an unbeaten tour for New Zealand. They had also won the T20I tri-series. Additionally, Matt Henry’s 16 wickets made him the series’ leading bowler.
However, Zimbabwe’s home Test record in 2025 worsened. They have one win in eight matches this year. The team will now focus on the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which they host in September. Meanwhile, New Zealand will resume Tests in November against the West Indies. With batting depth and a potent seam attack, they will enter that series as favourites.
