ZIM vs NZ second Test Preview | New Zealand look to end tour on high

‌New Zealand will look to end their Zimbabwe tour on a memorable note as they meet the hosts in the second and final Test match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from Thursday. The Kiwis won the T20 Tri-Series, which also featured South Africa apart from Zimbabwe, before beating the African nation by nine wickets in the first Test.

But the visitors will have their task cut out as the pace duo of Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith were ruled out of the game with injuries. All-rounder Zakary Foulkes and left-arm pacer Ben Lister have been added to the squad, with regular captain Tom Latham also looking a doubtful starter for the game.

However, pacer Matt Henry looks in ominous form after running through the home side’s batting line-up in the last game to register a match haul of 9/90. Stand-in captain Mitchell Santner also shone with a four-wicket haul in the second innings of the game. On the batting front, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell stood out with patient half-centuries, with opener Will Young and Henry Nicholls also getting promising starts.

For Zimbabwe, it will be yet another opportunity to disturb the apple cart as they cross paths again with a Test-playing nation. It will be an excellent exposure for the African unit, irrespective of the result, after valuable game time against England and South Africa earlier this season.

Former captain Brendan Taylor will be available for selection and will boost the home side’s batting line-up, which was found wanting in the first game. They were dismissed twice for sub-200 scores, handing the visitors an easy win. With the ball, the pace duo of Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga impressed, sharing five wickets among them, with left-arm pacer Newman Nyamhuri also showing some promise.

Form Guide

ZIM Form: LLLLL

NZ Form: WLLWW

ZIM vs NZ head-to-head in Tests

New Zealand have clearly dominated this fixture, winning 12 of the total 18 matches while Zimbabwe are yet to taste victory against their superior rivals. Six matches have ended in draws.

ZIM 0 - 12 NZ

Pitch and Conditions

The Queens Sports Club surface is expected to assist the pacers during the initial part of the match before the wicket eases out to bring in the spinners into play. The batters will get full value for their shots with the true bounce and quick outfield assisting strokeplay and run-making.

It is expected to be warm and sunny throughout the course of the second Test match, with temperatures ranging between 18 and 25 degrees. The match is expected to carry on without rain interruptions, with chances of rain put at 2% over the next five days.

Team News

New Zealand will miss the services of their pace duo of Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith, with Jacob Duffy and Zakary Foulkes expected to replace them in the playing eleven. With regular skipper Tom Latham looking doubtful for the second game, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner will continue leading the side in Latham’s absence.

For Zimbabwe, Brendan Taylor is expected to make his way into the side in place of wicketkeeper-batter Tafadzwa Tsiga.

ZIM Expected XI

Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Newman Nyamhuri, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga

NZ Expected XI

Will Young, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy

Broadcasting Platforms 

The ZIM vs NZ second Test match will be digitally streamed on the FanCode app and website in India, from 1:30 PM IST on Thursday.