Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 1st Match Pitch Report - Match Overview & Playing XI | New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe, 2025

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CFLL Staff

Published on

30 July 2025 | 06:54AM
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The ZIM vs NZ series opener promises to be an engaging encounter as Zimbabwe host New Zealand at the iconic Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. With both teams eager to make a strong start, the stage is set for a gripping contest of skill, strategy, and momentum.


Zimbabwe enters the match with a determined squad filled with experience and young energy. They’ll be banking on familiar home conditions and crowd support to challenge a formidable Kiwi side. With a mix of experienced middle-order players and dynamic all-rounders, Zimbabwe will look to balance aggression and control.


New Zealand, on the other hand, arrives with a well-rounded unit packed with world-class batters, reliable all-rounders, and a sharp pace attack. Their adaptability and depth across departments make them strong contenders. This tour is an opportunity for them to fine-tune combinations ahead of upcoming international assignments.


Expect the ZIM vs NZ Live Score to bring updates filled with boundaries, breakthroughs, and drama, as two determined sides kick off the series in style.


Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 1st Match Details

Series

New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe, 2025

Match

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand

Date & Time

30 July 2025, 01:30 PM

Venue

Queens Sports Club

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Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 1st Match Weather Condition

07:00 am

Cloud

2%

Humidity

53%

Wind

14.4 km/h

8.9

o

Sunny

Queens Sports Club

Queens Sports Club Pitch Report

Pitch Condition

Fast & Bounce

Batting Condition

Average

Pace Bowling

Pace & Bounce

Spin Bowling

Average

Pace vs Spin on Venue

(Last 10 match)

The pitch at Queens Sports Club is traditionally known to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. Initially, the surface is flat, favoring batters with good bounce and minimal lateral movement. Stroke makers enjoy the ball coming onto the bat, especially in the first half of the innings. As the match progresses, the surface can dry out slightly, offering grip to spinners and helping seamers extract reverse swing. With the outfield being quick and boundaries relatively short, a par score here hovers around 260–280 in ODIs. Toss could play a crucial role, with teams preferring to chase under favorable afternoon conditions.

Zimbabwe Recent form

Last 5 Matches

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New Zealand Recent form

Last 5 Matches

WWLLW

Venue Scoring Pattern

Avg 1st Innings

324

X

384

Avg 2st Innings

Highest Total

713/3 (165.3 Ov) by SL vs ZIM

X

104/10 (49 Ov) by ZIM vs WI

Lowest Total

Highest Chased

X

Lowest Defended

Matches Won
Batting First

8

40%
|
60%
Bowling First

12

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 1st Match Squad

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Zimbabwe Probable XI :

Ben Curran, Tanunurwa Makoni, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Nick Welch, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, Roy Kaia, Sikandar Raza, Tanaka Chivanga

New Zealand Probable XI :

Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, Jacob Duffy

Conclusion

As Zimbabwe look to defend their turf and New Zealand aim to assert dominance early, the opening match of this series is more than just a curtain-raiser—it's a tone-setter. Both teams have plenty to prove: Zimbabwe with their rebuilding strength and New Zealand with their world-class consistency. The battle between spin vs pace, aggression vs patience, and experience vs youth adds layers of excitement to this ZIM vs NZ showdown. With pride and momentum on the line, fans can expect a thrilling contest that could go down to the wire. Stay tuned for live score updates and every game-changing moment.