Report

Matt Henry takes nine as NZ rout Zimbabwe in first Test

New Zealand needed only eight to win after Zimbabwe were bowled out for 165 in second innings

Firdose Moonda
Firdose Moonda
01-Aug-2025
New Zealand 307 (Conway 88, Mitchell 80, Muzarabani 3-73) and 8 for 1 beat Zimbabwe 149 (Ervine 39, Henry 6-39, Smith 3-20) and 165 (Williams 49, Santner 4-27, O'Rourke 3-28, Henry 3-51) by nine wickets
New Zealand knocked off a target of eight runs in 14 balls to complete a comprehensive win over a Zimbabwe side whose home form continues to suffer. Their only Test win this year was against Bangladesh in Chattogram in April, and they have now lost their last five Tests.
The architects of New Zealand's victory were their bowlers, headlined by Matt Henry's second Test nine-for, which included three second-innings wickets. Although New Zealand were without Nathan Smith for the third day - he could not take the field to determine the severity of an abdominal strain - Will O'Rourke's 3 for 28 and stand-in captain Mitchell Santner's 4 for 27 meant Zimbabwe were bowled out for under 170 in both innings to leave major batting concerns.
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Ayub 57, Nawaz three-for extend West Indies' horror run

Pakistan's spinners were the difference between the two sides as they derailed the West Indies chase of 179

Danyal Rasool
Danyal Rasool
01-Aug-2025
Pakistan 178 for 6 (Ayub 57, Shamar 3-30) beat West Indies 164 for 7 (Andrew 35, Charles 35, Nawaz 3-23) by 14 runs
In a game which wasn't as close as the final scorecard would suggest, Pakistan's spinners were the difference between the two sides as they derailed the West Indies chase of 179 in the middle overs to ease to a 14-run victory in the first T20I in Lauderhill.
That target was put up thanks to a brisk half-century from Saim Ayub up top and contributions through the order. West Indies' bowling had the discipline to never truly let the batters cut loose on a surface that rewarded pace off the ball, but the flow of runs remained steady, if not explosive. Pakistan backloading some of their power hitters would come in handy when Jason Holder trapped Ayub in front for 57; cameos from Hasan Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf, as well as a six off the only ball Mohammad Haris faced helped Pakistan fetch 58 off their last 31 balls.
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Karun Nair fifty resists England on rain-hit day

Only 64 overs were possible on the day as England's lack of discipline even in helpful conditions kept India afloat

Alagappan Muthu
Alagappan Muthu
31-Jul-2025
Stumps India 204 for 6 (Nair 52*, Sai Sudharsan 38, Washington 19*, Atkinson 2-31, Tongue 2-47) vs England
After four Tests on flat pitches that took bowlers from both teams to the brink and counted among its casualties Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah, The Oval, which has been profoundly seam-friendly in recent times, provided margin for error. England played like they needed it; there were 30 extras but also six wickets and just 204 runs.
India came to the ground facing humongous odds. But they beat them. The probability of losing a 15th toss in a row was 32728 to 1. There's a chance unicorns are easier to find than a coin that will fall the way Shubman Gill wants it to.
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Justin Broad, Rob Keogh drive Northants as Chahal turns the screw

Derbyshire four-down at the close with an uphill battle awaiting them

Derbyshire 377 (Andersson 105, Chahal 6-118) and 52 for 4 trail Northamptonshire 550 for 9 dec (Broad 171, Keogh 125*) by 121 runs
Allrounder Justin Broad hit a brilliant 171, his second score in excess of 150 this month amid a Northamptonshire run-fest against Derbyshire at Wantage Road as the hosts racked up a mammoth 550 for nine declared.
Returning from a wrist injury, Broad struck 18 fours and a six, following his maiden first-class ton, 157 not out at Canterbury at the beginning of July. On a day of records, his 171 was the highest score ever made by a number seven from any team against Derbyshire.
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