ZIM vs NZ Prediction, Test Series 2025, Match 1, Match Winner, Team, Playing XI and Pitch Report

Zimbabwe will clash against New Zealand in the first Test of the two-match series at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting on Wednesday, July 30.

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Zimbabwe, led by Craig Ervine, is coming into this two-match Test series after suffering a 0-2 series loss to South Africa at home in June and July 2025. On the other hand, New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, is entering this series after losing to England by 1-2 a home in November and December 2024.

ZIM vs NZ, 1st Test, Match Details

Match: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, Test Series 2025, Match 1

Time & Date: 1:30 PM IST, July 30 to August 3

Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

ZIM vs NZ, 1st Test Pitch Report

The Bulawayo surface is expected to assist batters despite there being a swing on offer right from the initial overs against the new ball. The captain, who won the toss, would love to bowl first and put pressure on the opposition. 

ZIM vs NZ, 1st Test Probable XIs

Zimbabwe

Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Sikandar Raza, Wellington Masakadza, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu 

New Zealand

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Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, William O'Rourke

ZIM vs NZ, 1st Test Match Winner Prediction

Match Winner: New Zealand

Both these sides have played against each other on 17 instances in the longest format of the game, with New Zealand winning 11 of them, while six contests ended in a draw. On the other hand, Zimbabwe is yet to bag a win.

That said, we can expect a one-sided contest between these two sides, with the Black Caps dominating the contest right from the initial overs of the game.

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