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New Zealand opener Devon Conway’s magnificent innings of 153 runs has put the guests in a commanding position in the second Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe on day two at the Queens Sports Club in Harare. Hoping for a better batting performance than the previous game, Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine opted to bat first on a surface which had less grass than the first Test of the series. But the hosts couldn’t put up in front of the pace attack of Matt Henry (5/40) and debutant Zakary Foulkes (4/38), and got all out scoring 125. New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Will Young, laid a solid foundation and made up a partnership of 162, the third highest for Kiwis against Zimbabwe, and their first century opening stand since 2022.
Carrying on his good form from the first Test, where he scored 88, Devon Conway brought up his fifth Test in the second match of the series against Zimbabwe, the first 100-plus score since January 2023. This 153-run knock led to an end of a dry run by the Kiwi batter, who had been in patchy form in the red-ball format and also lost his place. He became the third New Zealand batter after Ross Taylor and Matt Horne, to score 150 or more against Zimbabwe in Test cricket, reaching the milestone with a well-timed shot off Vincent Masekesa in the 80th over of the team's first innings.
Devon Conway got bowled out in the 83rd over by Blessing Muzarabani
Devon Conway’s 153 appeared to reaffirm his ability to anchor innings under pressure. It can be said as a blend of both traditional patient patterns to play Test cricket and aggression in parts. Conway’s innings was not without challenges. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, particularly Blessing Muzarabani, tested him with the new ball, drawing an edge that Craig Ervine failed to hold at slip early on. Vincent Masekesa also appealed for an lbw when Conway was on 72, but the umpire’s decision stood. Despite these moments, Conway remained unflappable, guiding New Zealand to 235/2 by the first session’s drinks break, with a lead of 110 runs. His partnerships with Young (162 runs) and nightwatchman Jacob Duffy (36 off 55) were pivotal, though Duffy fell to a sharp catch by Brian Bennett off Masekesa.
His innings ended in the 83rd over, bowled by Muzarabani, who finally broke through with a hard-length delivery that jagged back into the left-hander. Attempting to leave the ball, Conway was struck on the midriff, and the ball deflected onto the stumps, ending his 245-ball vigil. As he walked off to applause from Zimbabwean players, New Zealand stood at 345/3, with Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra at the crease.
Conway’s 153, laced with 18 boundaries pushed his Test run tally past 2,000, with an average exceeding 36. With New Zealand leading by 476 runs and seven wickets in hand, they are appearing to be firmly in control. A lot will depend on when New Zealand will declare their innings and how Zimbabwe will address their batting woes to avoid a series whitewash in the next three days of the Test match.
