New Zealand etched their name into cricketing history during the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, becoming only the third team ever to have three batters score 150 or more in the same innings — a feat spanning more than 147 years of Test cricket.
The historic moment unfolded as Devon Conway (153), Henry Nicholls (150*), and Rachin Ravindra (165) combined to pile up an imposing 601/3 declared. Their relentless batting left Zimbabwe’s bowlers exhausted and their first-innings reply of just 125 a distant memory.
This rare achievement has only been seen twice before: England pulled it off against Australia at The Oval in 1938, and India repeated it against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in 1986. Now, New Zealand’s effort stands proudly alongside those iconic performances.
Conway set the tone with a composed and patient innings, peppered with crisp drives and impeccable shot selection. Nicholls played the anchor role to perfection, rotating the strike and ensuring stability from one end. Ravindra, brimming with confidence, shifted gears effortlessly, blending elegant strokes with bursts of aggression. Together, the trio dismantled Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, turning the contest into a one-sided affair.
By the time skipper Tim Southee declared, the Black Caps had built a colossal first-innings lead of 476 runs, leaving Zimbabwe the uphill task of merely surviving the rest of the match.
Beyond the numbers, this performance was a statement of New Zealand’s collective strength and batting depth — proof that the Black Caps are as methodical as they are ruthless. In a game often defined by fleeting moments, their display in Bulawayo was one for the ages, destined to be remembered whenever cricket’s rarest batting feats are discussed.
