ZIM vs NZ Match Prediction : 1st Test, New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe, 2025

The New Zealanders should have no concerns about seeing off their hosts. Zimbabwe’s limited chances in the format mean that they start most Tests on the back foot.

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Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record

This matchup can be seen as a foregone conclusion with New Zealand having never lost a Test match against Zimbabwe. The Black Caps have won four of the past six Tests between them and the Zimbabweans by an innings and more.

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Live-streaming and Broadcast

Zimbabwe will play host to New Zealand for this first Test of the series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from Wednesday, 30 July 2025 to Sunday, 3 August 2025. Catch the live-streaming for this match on the FanCode app in India.

Live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, and in-game betting odds will be updated on ocbscores.com.

ZIM vs NZ Team Previews

Zimbabwe

The Zimbabweans have not managed to put together the complete package in Test cricket for a while now. Where the batting is concerned, the team managed a score of 250 runs or more in only one of its past four innings.

The bowling has not been a standout either, with the Zimbabweans being on the receiving end of 626 for five declared and 418 for nine declared in their past two Test innings.

The side is likely to roll the changes for this Test against the Black Caps. The hosts will be heavily dependent on some of their key, experienced players like Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams and Blessing Muzarabani. Ervine last scored a Test half-century in January.

Sean Williams has two half-centuries and a century in his past five Test innings, making him one of the few reliable players to watch out for.

Zimbabwe Expected Playing 11

Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine (c), Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Sean Williams, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga

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New Zealand

The New Zealanders have tended to dominate the Zimbabweans across generations. They will bring a settled Test side to the African shores with the captaincy of Tom Latham. The team won its previous Test match by 423 runs against a much stronger England lineup.

The Black Caps side has started to build its nucleus of the next generation of New Zealand Test cricketers. Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham, opener Will Young and middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell all hit a half-century in their previous Test match.

Batters like Tom Blundell and Rachin Ravindra made starts in the 40s.

Mitchell Santner with 125 runs and seven wickets in his previous Test match will be dynamite with bat and ball alike. Matt Henry has a ton of wickets with the new ball. The rest of the pace-bowling lineup will have the tactical nous to roll through the home team’s batting lineup as well.

New Zealand Expected Playing 11

Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Ajaz Patel, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke

ZIM vs NZ Toss Prediction

Batting first could be a no-brainer for both captains. New Zealand will know all too well that batting first earned them a winning result in their previous Test. The home team, on the other hand, suffered a devastating defeat to South Africa when they had to bowl first in the second Test.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Early in the game, the pace bowlers can exploit just enough seam and bounce to unsettle batters. After the first hour and as the sun rises, the surface flattens. The later days of the Test are when the cracks will start to show, and the surface breaks up. If the Test gets to the fourth and fifth days, the spinners should be in the game. South Africa scored more than 600 runs batting first in the previous Test at the ground.

Rain will be among the least of both teams’ worries with the chances of rain on all matchdays being in the single digits. Temperatures will be on the cooler side of the scale with a light breeze.

ZIM vs NZ: Who Will Win?

Zimbabwe was part of the record books for the wrong reasons, having been on the receiving end of South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder with 367 runs not out in a towering defeat. The New Zealanders should have no issues with cleaning up their hosts in this Test.

Bet on New Zealand to win this match.

ZIM vs NZ win percentage stands at 81% in favor of NZ.

Todays Match Prediction: New Zealand to Win.