Cricket Prediction | ZIM vs NZ | New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe 2025 | 2nd Test | Aug 07 – 11 – Can ZIM Keep the Pressure On?

ZIM vs NZ Match Analysis

Starting August 7, 2025, Bulawayo Sports Club will host the highly anticipated second Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand. This match promises to be a gripping contest as New Zealand looks to seal the series while Zimbabwe aims to bounce back on their home turf. 

Though their recent form has been mixed, Zimbabwe’s cricket team has maintained a strong spirit. With a blend of experienced campaigners like Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, alongside promising young talents, the team aims to harness home advantage. 

New Zealand’s Test side is renowned for its bowling discipline and batting versatility, maintaining its status as a tough competitor. Under Mitchell Santner’s captaincy, they have balanced youth and experience well, making them tough opponents in any conditions. 

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Team Preview & Squads

Zimbabwe

Craig Ervine’s calm, strategic leadership guides ZIM, while his reliable middle-order batting forms the core of the team’s lineup. Ervine’s leadership will be key to Zimbabwe’s chances of staging a comeback in the series.

Central to Zimbabwe’s batting success are the efforts of Taylor, Williams, and Ervine. While Taylor and Williams provide stability and experience, there are some exciting young players like Brian Bennett and Clive Madande trying to cement their spots. 

ZIM bowling attack is led by Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza, both known for their pace and wicket-taking ability. Spin options like Trevor Gwandu add variety, but the bowling unit as a whole faces pressure against powerful New Zealand batsmen. 

In the first Test at Bulawayo on July 30, 2025, Zimbabwe struggled significantly against New Zealand’s bowling attack. They posted scores of 149 and 165 in their two innings, while New Zealand scored 307 and chased down the target losing just one wicket. New Zealand’s dominant 9-wicket victory underlined the gap between the teams, making Zimbabwe’s task in the second Test tougher but not impossible.

Zimbabwe Squad

Zimbabwe

Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Clive Madande, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Nick Welch, Sean Williams.

New Zealand

Mitchell Santner, leading NZ, combines astute tactical awareness with effective spin bowling. His leadership has brought a positive balance to the team, encouraging aggressive cricket without compromising stability. 

New Zealand boasts a deep batting lineup with the likes of Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Henry Nicholls complementing the captain Santner. Their batting order is flexible and experienced, capable of adapting to different match situations. 

Whether it’s swing under the clouds or drift under the sun, Henry and Ajaz ensure NZ’s bowling is locked, loaded, and lethal. The pace attack is supported by Jacob Duffy and Ben Lister, while Santner’s spin provides variety. Their bowling is known for consistency, accuracy, and the ability to exploit conditions both at home and abroad.

New Zealand displayed their class in the first Test at Bulawayo, defeating Zimbabwe by 9 wickets. After dismissing Zimbabwe cheaply in both innings, New Zealand’s batsmen comfortably built a big first innings total of 307 and then sealed the match with minimal fuss. 

New Zealand Squad

New Zealand

Mitchell Santner (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young.

ZIM vs NZ Outfield Report

Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

The pitch at Bulawayo traditionally favors seam bowling early on, with some assistance for spinners as the match progresses. The pitch is likely to produce uneven bounce, challenging batsmen’s technique and patience. As the game wears on, cracks and rough patches could appear, providing more assistance to the bowlers.

Early August in Bulawayo tends to be dry and mild, with daytime temperatures sitting comfortably between 22 and 25°C. The forecast suggests clear skies throughout the match, ideal for uninterrupted play. Evening conditions could get cooler, which may influence swing bowling during early morning and late afternoon sessions.

Historically, the highest team score at Bulawayo’s venue has been around 450-500 runs in Test cricket, while the lowest totals have dipped below 100 on challenging days. Teams batting first tend to post scores in the 300s to 400s, but chasing totals over 250 can be tricky given the pitch’s deteriorating nature.

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In the last five Test matches between Zimbabwe and New Zealand, New Zealand has dominated with four wins and one drawn game. 

ZIM vs NZ Prediction

According to cricket analysts New Zealand have a 60% chance of Winning.