Ben Stokes and Shoaib Bashir bowled brilliantly to put England in full control against Zimbabwe in the Trent Bridge Test. Their powerful performance with the ball left Zimbabwe struggling, giving England a strong chance to win the match easily.
Big Lead for England After Strong Batting and Bowling Performances
England took a huge step toward victory on day two of their four-day Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. After scoring 565 runs and declaring their innings with five wickets down, England bowled Zimbabwe out for 265 runs and made them bat again (called enforcing the follow-on).
Ollie Pope had earlier led England’s strong batting with a brilliant 171 runs. Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett fought back with a fast and fearless century, scoring 139 from just 97 balls—the fastest Test hundred in Zimbabwe’s history. But despite Bennett’s heroics, Zimbabwe couldn’t avoid the follow-on.
Ben Stokes Returns to Bowling with a Bang
England captain Ben Stokes returned to bowling for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury last December. Even though he hasn’t bowled in months, he looked sharp and dangerous. Stokes took two quick wickets Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere right before the tea break.
His first legal ball should have earned him a wicket, but Joe Root dropped an easy catch at slip. Still, Stokes didn’t give up. He got Raza out with a ball that rose sharply and moved away, then bowled Madhevere with a delivery that came back into the batsman. It was classic Stokes—aggressive, accurate, and full of energy.
Shoaib Bashir Impresses With Key Wickets
Young spinner Shoaib Bashir played a big role for England too. He took three important wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings. Bashir dismissed Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine for 42 runs with a spinning delivery that beat the bat. He also took the wickets of Tafadzwa Tsiga and Sean Williams.
Bashir’s performance is even more impressive because he hasn’t had a great season in county cricket. He only took two wickets while on loan at Glamorgan earlier this year. But England captain Stokes has shown faith in the spinner, and it paid off here.
Bashir had to leave the field with a bleeding finger after trying to catch a ball hit back at him. Stokes stepped in to finish the over and made an immediate impact with his bowling.
Zimbabwe Follow-On and Lose Two Early Wickets
After being bowled out for 265, Zimbabwe were asked to bat again. This is called the “follow-on” and it usually happens when a team is far behind after the first innings.
Zimbabwe started badly. Brian Bennett, the man who scored their century earlier, was out for just one run, trapped leg-before-wicket (LBW) by Gus Atkinson. Then Craig Ervine, the captain, was caught by Ollie Pope off Josh Tongue’s bowling.
Zimbabwe ended the day on 30-2 in their second innings. They still trail England by 270 runs. With two days left, England are in full control and could finish the match early on day three.
More Highlights from Day Two
- Sam Cook got his first wicket in Test cricket, a proud moment for the young pacer.
- Romantic comeback for Stokes, returning as a bowler after a long injury break.
- Brian Bennett’s century was a rare bright spot for Zimbabwe. His 97-ball hundred was full of brave shots and smart play.
- Ollie Pope’s innings helped set the tone for England, giving them a strong total to defend.
- Fireworks from Bashir and Stokes left Zimbabwe struggling by the end of the day.
What’s Next for England and Zimbabwe?
With two full days remaining in the match, England will look to finish the game early on day three. Zimbabwe need to bat extremely well just to avoid an innings defeat.
But with England bowlers in top form, especially Ben Stokes and Shoaib Bashir, a win for England looks very likely.
Conclusion:
England’s all-round performance big runs, smart captaincy, and strong bowling—has put them in total command. Zimbabwe will need something special to survive from here.