New Zealand destroy Zimbabwe with their record-margin Test win

New Zealand set their new record in Test cricket after thrashing the hosts Zimbabwe on the third day of the second and final Test match of the series to clinch the away Test series by 2-0. 

After the hosts chose to bat first, they were bowled out for only 125 runs in the first innings. With the record of three 150s, New Zealand scored 601/3 before declaring their innings on the third day morning. On the third day, the Chevrons were bundled out for only 117 runs as the Blackcaps won the Test by an innings and 359 runs. Only Nick Welch (47*) and captain Craig Ervine (17) managed to reach double-digit scores in that innings.

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New Zealand recorded their largest Test win

It was the largest Test victory margin (by an innings) for New Zealand. Their previous record was winning by an innings and 301 runs against Zimbabwe at Napier in 2012. Meanwhile, Blackcaps also recorded the third biggest winning margin (by an innings) in Test cricket history.

Biggest Test victory margins (by an innings)

Team	Winning margin (by an innings)	Opposition	Venue	Year
England	innings & 579 runs	Australia	The Oval	1938
Australia	innings & 360 runs	South Africa	Johannesburg	2002
New Zealand	innings & 359 runs	Zimbabwe	Bulawayo	2025
West Indies	innings & 336 runs	India	Kolkata	1958
Australia	innings & 332 runs	England	Brisbane	1946

Zakary Foulkes also set New Zealand Test debut record

While Matt Henry recorded a fifer in the first innings (5/40), Test debutant Zakary Foulkes, who recorded four wickets in the first innings (4/38), also picked up a five-wicket haul in the third innings of the Test as the right-arm medium had the bowling figures of 9-2-37-5. His 9/75 were the best match bowling figures by a New Zealand Test debutant, as he broke Will O’Rourke's previous record 9/93 (vs South Africa in the 2024 Hamilton Test). 

In the third innings of the Test match, Matt Henry (2/16) and Jacob Duffy (2/28) picked up two wickets each, while another debutant right-arm medium fast bowler Matthew Fisher got one wicket (1/22), just like the first innings (1/16).