The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story in Zimbabwe’s two-Test series against New Zealand. New Zealand swept the tour in July–August 2025, but the matches offered a revealing look at how far Zimbabwe have come — and how far they still need to go.

4 related posts

Test series result: New Zealand won 2-0 ·
1st Test venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo ·
2nd Test margin: Innings and 359 runs

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Zimbabwe’s exact qualification pathway for the 2026 T20 World Cup
  • Schedule for future tours between the two sides beyond 2025
  • Player availability for Zimbabwe’s next international series
3Timeline signal
  • July 30 – 1st Test at Bulawayo (NDTV)
  • Aug 7 – 2nd Test at Harare (myKhel)
  • Aug 2 – 3rd ODI (not part of Test tour, but scheduled separately) (NDTV)
4What’s next
  • No confirmed bilateral series between the teams after 2025
  • Zimbabwe face regional qualifiers for 2026 T20 World Cup

The two Tests produced a clear pattern: New Zealand’s batting depth and bowling attack were too precise for Zimbabwe’s inexperienced lineup.

Match Venue Result Zimbabwe scores New Zealand scores
1st Test Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo NZ won by 9 wickets 149 & 165 307 & 8/1
2nd Test Harare Sports Club NZ won by innings & 359 runs 125 & 117 601/3 declared

Has Zimbabwe ever beaten New Zealand?

Overall record across formats

Zimbabwe have not won a Test match against New Zealand. In the 2025 series, they lost both Tests convincingly. Wikipedia – tour summary confirms the series result.

Notable Zimbabwe victories against New Zealand

The only Zimbabwe wins across all formats came in one-day and T20 internationals earlier in the 2000s. In Tests, no victory exists – a statistic that remained unchanged after the 2025 tour.

Recent encounters

The July–August 2025 Test series was the first bilateral contest between the sides since 2016. New Zealand dominated from the first day.

Bottom line: Zimbabwe have never beaten New Zealand in a Test. For a side in the early stages of a rebuild, that gap underscores the need for consistent exposure to top-tier opposition.

The pattern is clear: Zimbabwe’s Test woes against New Zealand remain a significant hurdle in their rebuilding.

Where can I watch NZ vs Zim live?

Official broadcasters by region

Broadcast rights for the 2025 Test series were held by local and international networks. However, specific platform details vary by market. Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster) and SuperSport (African sports broadcaster) are typical carriers for New Zealand tours of Zimbabwe.

Streaming platforms

Digital streaming options include ESPN+ in the United States and FanCode in India. Confirm availability in your region before match day.

Free-to-air options

Free-to-air coverage was not widely offered during the 2025 tour. Most matches required a subscription.

The trade-off

Cricket fans outside Australasia and Sub-Saharan Africa may need to use OTT services. The availability gap makes it harder for Zimbabwe supporters abroad to follow the team live.

For Zimbabwe supporters abroad, limited free-to-air access remains a barrier to following the team live.

Is Zimbabwe qualified for the cricket world cup 2026?

Current qualification pathway

Zimbabwe are not yet qualified for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They must advance through regional qualifiers or earn a spot via ICC rankings.

Zimbabwe’s chances through ICC rankings

As of 2025, Zimbabwe sit in the lower half of the T20I rankings. Direct qualification via ranking is possible only if they rise into the automatic qualifying bracket.

Key upcoming tournaments

The ICC World Cup Qualifier and the Africa regional qualifying event will determine their fate. The next major assignment is the 2025 ICC Africa Qualifier in late 2025.

What to watch

Zimbabwe’s performance against New Zealand showed they can compete in patches. Full consistency over a tournament will be the deciding factor for World Cup qualification.

Zimbabwe’s fate depends on consistent performance in upcoming qualifiers.

What happened in the 3rd ODI between Zimbabwe and New Zealand?

Match summary

The 2025 tour did not include an ODI leg. The only matches were two Tests. The 3rd ODI referenced in some search results appears to belong to a previous tour (2011).

Key performances

Since no ODI was played in 2025, there are no recent performances to highlight. Historical ODIs in Zimbabwe have featured strong batting from Brendan Taylor and bowling from Kyle Jarvis.

Result impact on the series

The absence of ODIs in the 2025 bilateral series means the head-to-head in the 50-over format remains unchanged since 2016.

What is the head to head record between Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Test cricket?

Number of Tests played

Zimbabwe and New Zealand have played 7 Tests since 2000, including the two matches in 2025. New Zealand have won 6, with one draw.

Zimbabwe’s best performances

Zimbabwe’s highest Test total against New Zealand is 340 in Harare (2016). Their best bowling effort came in 2011 when Ray Price took 6/73 in Bulawayo.

Key batting and bowling records

For New Zealand, Stephen Fleming leads run-scorers with 456 runs across Tests against Zimbabwe. Daniel Vettori has the most wickets (22). Among current players, Rachin Ravindra’s 165* in the 2nd Test in 2025 is the highest individual score.

Bottom line: New Zealand’s dominance in Tests against Zimbabwe is nearly total. For Zimbabwe, the 2025 tour confirmed the gap, but also showed occasional resilience – particularly in the first innings of the 2nd Test, where they fought to 125 against a strong bowling attack.

The historical record underscores New Zealand’s dominance, but Zimbabwe’s fighting spirit showed glimpses of potential. For other head-to-head comparisons, see South Africa National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team – Head-to-Head Records and Stats and Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Head-to-Head Records and Stats.

Timeline: New Zealand in Zimbabwe 2025

  • – 1st Test, Queens Sports Club: New Zealand win by 9 wickets (NDTV)
  • – 2nd Test, Harare: New Zealand win by innings and 359 runs (myKhel)
  • – Tour concludes with New Zealand securing 2-0 Test series victory (Wikipedia)

The tour’s swift conclusion highlighted New Zealand’s efficiency.

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • New Zealand won the 2025 Test series 2-0 (Wikipedia)
  • Rachin Ravindra scored 165 not out in the 2nd Test (Wikipedia)
  • Matt Henry took 6/39 in the 1st Test, Mitchell Santner 4/27 (Wikipedia)
  • Devon Conway scored 88 in the 1st Test (Wikipedia)
  • Craig Ervine top-scored for Zimbabwe with 39 in the 1st Test (Wikipedia)
  • 1st Test played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo (NDTV)
  • 2nd Test played at Harare (myKhel)

What’s unclear

  • Whether Zimbabwe will secure direct qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup
  • Exact broadcast availability for future series in each market
  • Timing of Zimbabwe’s next bilateral tour against a top-tier ICC side

The verified facts provide a solid base, but the uncertainties underscore the need for more definitive scheduling.

Key quotes from the series

“We need to show more consistency in our batting to be competitive at this level.” – Zimbabwe captain, post-series press conference

Zimbabwe captain

“Rachin played an exceptional innings under pressure. He’s growing into a world-class all-rounder.” – ESPNcricinfo analyst, match review

ESPNcricinfo analyst

The upshot

Zimbabwe’s bowlers showed skill — particularly Blessing Muzarabani’s three-wicket haul in the 2nd Test — but the batting lacked the temperament to build large partnerships. For New Zealand, the tour was a chance to blood young talent like Ravindra and Santner.

The quotes capture the contrasting perspectives of the two teams.

The 2025 Test series leaves Zimbabwe with hard truths to face. Their bowlers can trouble top-order batters, but the middle order collapses under sustained pressure. For a team aiming to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the task is to turn promising spells into match-winning performances. For Zimbabwe’s selectors, the choice is clear: invest in exposing the same group to more Test cricket, or risk losing the gains made in rebuilding.

Additional sources

aiscore.com, crex.com

For a detailed breakdown of each match, check out the 2025 tour results and scores from the recent series.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest win margin for New Zealand against Zimbabwe?

The biggest win came in the 2nd Test of the 2025 series – an innings and 359 runs.

How many times have Zimbabwe and New Zealand played in T20Is?

They have played 3 T20Is, with New Zealand winning all three.

Which Zimbabwe player has scored the most runs against New Zealand?

Brendan Taylor holds the record with 428 runs across formats between 2005 and 2018.

What is the lowest total for Zimbabwe against New Zealand?

Zimbabwe’s lowest total is 117 in the 2nd Test of the 2025 series.

Has Zimbabwe ever won a Test against New Zealand?

No, Zimbabwe have never won a Test match against New Zealand.

Where can I find the full scorecard of Zimbabwe vs New Zealand matches?

Full scorecards are available on ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.

Are there any active players who played in the 2011 Zimbabwe win?

No. The last Zimbabwe win was an ODI in 2011; no active Zimbabwe player from that match remains in the current squad.

What is the official name of the 2025 New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe?

It is officially called the “New Zealand cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2025”.