BULAWAYO TEST
![[File picture] Henry picked 6 for 39](https://www.cricbuzz.com/a/img/v1/595x396/i1/c731595/file-picture-henry-picked-6.jpg "[File picture] Henry picked 6 for 39")
[File picture] Henry picked 6 for 39 © Getty
Matt Henry delivered his third-best bowling figures in Test cricket to spearhead New Zealand’s commanding start in the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Henry’s 6 for 39, complemented by Nathan Smith’s 3 for 20, dismantled Zimbabwe’s batting lineup as the hosts were bowled out for 149 early in the last session of Day 1. New Zealand began their reply confidently, moving to 92/0 at Stumps as Devon Conway (51*) and Will Young (41*) wiped off more than 60 percent of the deficit to round off a dominant opening day for New Zealand.
Henry struck early, removing both openers cheaply. Brian Bennett was the first to fall, edging to third slip after Henry varied his lengths effectively. Ben Curran followed soon after, also caught at third slip when Henry’s change of angle induced another outside edge. The collapse continued when Sean Williams, Zimbabwe’s key batter, chopped on for 2 after being troubled by Nathan Smith’s inward angle.
At 31/3, Zimbabwe were in deep trouble before Nick Welch and skipper Craig Ervine got together and steadied the ship with a promising stand. However, their position worsened as Welch (27) fell to Henry, caught at second slip, and Sikandar Raza followed soon after as he gloved a bouncer to the wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, with the two dismissals coming on either side of Lunch.
Craig Ervine (30) and Tafadzwa Tsiga provided some resistance with a 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Smith broke through by trapping Ervine lbw for 30. The tail fell apart quickly as Henry completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Newman Nyamhuri with another short delivery, before wrapping up the innings by having Blessing Muzarabani caught by captain Mitchell Santner, who was leading the side in Tom Latham’s injury-forced absence.
New Zealand’s openers got off to a solid start, with Devon Conway and Will Young dealing in regular boundaries, as the pair raised the half-century stand inside 14 overs. The openers were hardly troubled in their 26-over stay as they extended their partnership close to the 100-run mark. Conway took his fours tally to 8 as he brought up a half-century late in the day while Young was nine away from one, as the openers finished unbeaten at Stumps.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 149 (Craig Ervine 39, Tafadzwa Tsiga 30; Matt Henry 6-39, Nathan Smith 3-20) lead New Zealand 92/0 (Devon Conway 51*, Will Young 41*) by 57 runs.
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