Zimbabwe suffered a 138-run defeat against a combined county second-string XI in their tour match ahead of the one-off Test against England.
Zimbabwe will face England in a one-off Test at Trent Bridge starting May 22, their first meeting in the format since 2003. However, the tourists suffered a setback ahead of the historic match, losing to the Professional County Club Select XI in their warm-up game.
In the four-day practice match at the Uptonsteel County Ground in Leicester, Zimbabwe started well, reducing the hosts to 208-8 in the first innings, bowling first. Sebastian Morgan (66 not out) and Jafer Chohan (56) put on a lower-order resistance, taking the hosts to 330. Zimbabwe managed to keep their nose slightly ahead with a 73-run first innings lead. Wesley Madhevere (93), aided by Brian Bennett (65), Sean Williams (76), and Tafadzwa Tsiga (66), took Zimbabwe to 403.
Zimbabwe squander early advantage
Thereafter, things started going downhill for the tourists. Professional County Club Select XI's second-innings response was spearheaded by No.3 Dan Mousley’s 154 off 186 balls. He was well supported by wicketkeeper Thomas Rew, brother of Somerset prodigy James. Having recorded a duck in the first innings, Rew struck an unbeaten 107-ball 103 before his team declared the innings for 464-7.
Thomas Rew, brother of recent England Test call-up James, has announced himself with a rapid hundred against Zimbabwe in a four-day tour game, playing for the Professional County Club Select XI 👏
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 18, 2025
The 17-year-old is yet to make his first-class debut.#ENGvsZIM #Cricket pic.twitter.com/aSMkbSz9vh
Chasing 391, Zimbabwe were all over the place as a triple strike from Ed Jack reduced them to 30-3. Ben Curran was the first to perish for a duck with Sean Williams (1) and Bennett (17) following the left-handed opener. Zimbabwe soon found half of their side back in the pavilion for 98 runs.
Nick Welch from No.3 counterpunched with an 87 off 117 balls, but he too returned, with Zimbabwe still 223 runs shy of the target. Realising a win was unlikely, Tsiga batted for 113 deliveries for his unbeaten 66 in an attempt to play out the overs. However, he ran out of partners as they were bowled out for 253. Jack (3-40) was the pick of the Professional County Club Select XI bowlers.
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