New Zealand Script History With Record Win Vs ZIM; Here’s Top Five Biggest Margins

Aakash Saini

5 biggest innings win in Test cricket history [Source: @BLACKCAPS/x]5 biggest innings win in Test cricket history [Source: @BLACKCAPS/x]

New Zealand completed a 2-0 Test series sweep over Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Remarkably, the ‘Black Caps’ did so with much authority and precision as they recorded their biggest win margin, and one of the biggest overall in Test history.

Celebrating New Zealand’s one-sided traffic in Bulawayo, here is a look at five of the highest margins of Test victories in history in terms of an innings win.


5. Australia winning by an innings & 332 Runs vs England, Brisbane, 1946

Back in December 1946 during the first Test of the 1946-47 Ashes series, hosts Australia crushed the visiting Englishmen by an innings and 332 runs at the Gabba in Brisbane. Batting first, Australia mounted 645 from 159 overs courtesy of big centuries from then captain Don Bradman (187) and Lindsay Hassett. England survived for just 105 overs combined in their two innings as they registered mediocre scores of 141 and 172 to cap a horrible series-opener. For Australia, Keith Miller picked up a sensational seven-fer in the first English innings, while Ernie Toshack delivered the knockout blow to the visitors with 6-82 in the decisive innings.


4. West Indies winning by an innings & 336 Runs vs India, Kolkata, 1958

West Indies, led by Gerry Alexander, pulverized hosts India by an innings and 336 runs in the third Test of the five-match series back in January 1959 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Rohan Kanhai’s 256 and hundreds from Basil Butcher and unbeaten Garry Sobers helped West Indies mount 614-5d from 162.1 overs in their first innings.

Roy Gilchrist and Wes Hall skittled the Indians for just 124 in 62.5 overs as the visitors gained a huge 490-run lead at the halfway stage. Gilchrist added six more to his tally in the second innings to complete nine for the match as Team India bundled out for just 154 in 49 overs to go 0-2 down in the series.


3. New Zealand winning by an innings & 359 Runs vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2025

New Zealand crushed hosts Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs in Bulawayo in August 2025 to record their biggest win margin in Test cricket. Matt Henry started off the match with a five-fer and was ably assisted by Zakary Foulkes as the two pacemen folded up Zimbabwe for just 125 on Day 1. In response, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra all plundered scores of 150 or above as New Zealand took a lead of 476 runs by charting 601-3d from 130 overs.

Foulkes dismantled Zimbabwe for the second time in the match, this time with a five-fer to complete a nine-wicket haul as the ‘Black Caps’ completed a 2-0 sweep over Craig Ervine and co.


2. Australia winning by an innings & 360 Runs vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2002

In the series-opening first Test between hosts South Africa and a Steve Waugh-led Australian team back in February 2002, the latter emerged victorious by an innings and 360 runs. To date, the outcome remains the biggest ever win margin ever recorded by a visiting team in Test cricket.

Batting first, a career-best 204* from Adam Gilchrist and centuries from Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn helped Australia cart 652-7d from 146 overs, doing so at a run-rate of 4.46. Australian fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee came to the fore by picking up six wickets between them to dismantle the Proteas for just 159 in 48 overs. McGrath took another five in the second innings to complete nine for the match, while Shane Warne bagged four of his own as Australia bowled out South Africa for 133 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.


1. England winning by an innings & 579 Runs vs Australia, The Oval, 1938

In a mismatch of epic proportions, England annihilated Australia by an innings and 579 runs in the final Test of the 1938 Ashes series at The Oval in London. Home opener Leonard Hutton started off the match with a majestic 364 from 847 balls. Maurice Leyland and unbeaten Joe Hardstaff also plundered centuries as England batted for 335.2 overs to make 903-7d.

Later, England bowlers had to stay on the field only for 86 overs combined, courtesy of a five-wicket match haul of Ken Farnes and a seven-fer from Bill Bowes as Australia registered scores of 201 and 123 in each innings respectively.