AI Simulation, ZIM vs NZ | Rachin ton and dominant bowling performance helps Kiwis go 1-0 up in Bulawayo

07/29/2025

As per AI, Rachin Ravindra is set to score his third Test ton in Bulawayo for New Zealand to help them thump Zimbabwe in the first Test

As per Chat GPT, New Zealand will hardly break a sweat in the first of two Tests against Zimbabwe at Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo beginning July 30 as they cruise to a nine-wicket win. Rachin Ravindra's 142 saw the Kiwis post 400-plus in the first innings which culminated a paltry target of 53.

New Zealand is set to take on Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series beginning Wednesday. We asked Chat GPT to simulate the entirety of the first Test and this is how it turned out.

Pitch and Weather

A traditional deck was on offer in Bulawayo -- slow, dry, difficult for batting, and a haven for spinners especially as the game wore on courtesy of the low humidity levels during the Zimbabwean winter. The temperature hovered between 15 and 20 degrees Centigrade for the majority of the encounter, with clear skies and no rain in store.

Toss

Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Lineups

Zimbabwe: Brian Benett, Ben Curran, Craig Ervine (c), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Roy Kaia, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Blessing Muzarabani

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Will O'Rourke, Matt Fisher

Match Report

Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe's innings began ominously when Ben Curran nicked behind to a Will O'Rourke outswinger and departed for a single digit score on his return from concussion. Brian Bennett and Craig Ervine tried to build a base with an almost chanceless 45-run stand but fell in quick succession to once again hand the visitors the momentum at 71/3. Nevertheless, Sean Williams (66) and Sikandar Raza (47) picked up exactly where the duo had left off, the latter introducing jeopardy with some streaky boundaries while Williams was happy to tick the ball around for singles. Post Lunch, their stand had balloooned past a ton when Matt Henry delivered a game-changing spell. The right-arm quick scalped both incumbent batsmen in the space of four overs and then added Roy Kaia to his tally for good measure, suddenly leaving the hosts reeling at 202/6. Wicket-keeper batter Tafadzwa Tsiga shepherded the tail briefly while compiling 21 runs, followed by a quick 11-run cameo from Blessing Muzarabani to post a first-innings score of 258.

The pacer then got the Chevrons off to a cracking start by dispatching Will Young and Henry Nicholls early but thus began a long period of dominance with the Kiwis. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra took to the pitch like a duck to water, batting through two sessions to build a mammoth stand of 196. While the opener was stranded 11 short of a ton, Rachin reached the milestone with aplomb and combined for another 60-run stand with Daryl Mitchell. Once the Chevrons finally got rid of him for 142, Michael Bracewell guarded the tail with a brave knock of 43 to help the Kiwis end up with 402 and a first-innings lead of 144 runs.

Zimbabwe never looked up to the task when they came out to bat again as the pitch had dried out significantly, bringing the spinners into the mix. It did not help that they offered Will O'Rourke three wickets with the new ball courtesy some loose shots, bringing Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza to the crease as early as the 12th over. The duo once again tried to resurrect hopes with a quick 75-run stand against the odds but it was only a matter of time before Mitchell Santner burst through the lineup. His four scalps decimated the middle order and eventually bowled out the hosts for 196 on Day 3, leaving the Kiwis a paltry 53 to chase down.

Muzarabani induced a spark of hope when he dispatched Conway early but Young and Nicholls took the team through to the target without much ado, sealing a comfortable nine-wicket victory.

Player of the Match

Rachin Ravindra bagged the Man of the Match award for his commanding and relatively quick knock of 142 which set up the game perfectly for the Kiwis, just when the Chevrons were beginning to make inroads. The handy spinner also contributed a wicket each in both innings.