England secured a comprehensive victory over Zimbabwe, winning by an innings and 45 runs in a Test at Trent Bridge. Shoaib Bashir was the star, taking 6-81 in the second innings. This match was Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in 22 years. England scored 565-6 declared, while Zimbabwe struggled in both innings.
In a dominant display, England defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 45 runs in a one-off Test match at Trent Bridge on Saturday. The result marked Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in over two decades. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir emerged as the standout performer, achieving match figures of 9-143, which included a career-best 6-81 in the second innings as Zimbabwe was bowled out for 255 on day three.
Bashir’s impressive performance featured two crucial dismissals just before and after lunch, taking out Sean Williams, who scored 88, and Ben Curran. Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza managed a quick 60 runs but that was not enough to delay England’s victory significantly. England’s strong first innings of 565-6 declared laid the foundation for their win, highlighted by centuries from Zak Crawley (124), Ben Duckett (140), and Ollie Pope (171).
Despite Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett blazing to the fastest Test century for his side, reaching 100 runs in just 97 balls, the visitors fell short again, ending their first innings at 265 with Bashir claiming three wickets for 62 runs.
It’s notable that this was Ben Stokes’ first match back in a competitive setting, and he contributed a couple of wickets for the home team. After this victory, England is gearing up for a challenging five-match series against India set to begin in June.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe will be looking forward to a two-match Test series against their neighbors, South Africa, in the coming months. This marks a pivotal moment for both teams as they continue their journey in Test cricket.
Brief Scores:
– England 1st Innings: 565-6 declared (O Pope 171, B Duckett 140, Z Crawley 124; B Muzarabani 3-143)
– Zimbabwe 1st Innings: 265 (B Bennett 139; S Bashir 3-62)
– Zimbabwe 2nd Innings: 255 (S Williams 88, S Raza 60; S Bashir 6-81)
– Result: England won by an innings and 45 runs.
In summary, England’s commanding win over Zimbabwe underscores the team’s readiness for upcoming challenges. Shoaib Bashir’s standout performance along with the formidable batting lineup sets a confident tone moving forward. With England next facing India in June and Zimbabwe preparing for South Africa, both teams have significant matches on the horizon.
Original Source: 24newshd.tv
