Massive lead established by a triple of New Zealand cricketers as they match the world record, surpassing Zimbabwe in run total.
New Zealand Achieves Rare Batting Milestone in Bulawayo Test
New Zealand made history in the second Zimbabwe Test, as three of their batsmen scored 150 or more runs in a single innings for only the third time ever in Test cricket history. This remarkable feat was achieved during New Zealand's dominant 601/3 declared, their fifth-highest total away from home.
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, and Rachin Ravindra all contributed to this historic moment. Conway broke a over two-year-long drought since his last Test hundred against Pakistan in January 2023, scoring a 245-ball 153. Nicholls and Ravindra both remained unbeaten, with Nicholls finishing the day on 150 and Ravindra on 165.
This rare achievement came as New Zealand went to stumps on day two, leading Zimbabwe by a substantial 476 runs. Overnight, this lead is the second-highest in New Zealand's Test history, surpassed only by their 481-run lead against Bangladesh in the 2019 Hamilton Test.
The unbeaten 256-run partnership between Nicholls and Ravindra also surpassed the previous best fourth-wicket partnership for New Zealand. This partnership helped New Zealand to a commanding position, giving them the potential to enter the all-time top three for largest first-innings leads.
England currently holds the record for the largest first-innings lead with 702 runs against Australia in 1938. Sri Lanka is second with a 587-run lead against South Africa in 2006, and Pakistan is third with a 570-run lead against New Zealand in 2002. If New Zealand surpasses their current lead, they will be within reach of entering this prestigious list.
This 3-player 150+ score feat was last achieved in 1986, when India's Sunil Gavaskar, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Kapil Dev all surpassed 150 in a drawn Test against Sri Lanka at Kanpur. The 2025 Bulawayo Test marks the second time this feat has been achieved in Test history.
However, the reasons behind New Zealand fielding three debutant fast bowlers in the second Zimbabwe Test remain unclear. Additionally, the reasons for Kane Williamson's absence from the Zimbabwe Test series are not disclosed.
Despite these uncertainties, the 2025 series against Zimbabwe showcases a dominant all-round performance by New Zealand, with both a historic batting milestone and their biggest Test win ever by margin.
Sports news highlights the New Zealand cricket team's outstanding performance in the Bulawayo Test, where three batsmen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, and Rachin Ravindra, scored 150 or more runs in a single innings for the second time in Test cricket history. This achievement occurred among a series of records, including a 256-run fourth-wicket partnership between Nicholls and Ravindra that surpassed the previous best for New Zealand. Meanwhile, the reasons behind fielding three debutant fast bowlers and Kane Williamson's absence from the Zimbabwe Test series remain unexplained.
