England Crushes Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge: Ollie Pope's 171 and Zak Crawley's 3,000 Test Run Milestone Highlight Four-Day Test

Ollie Pope’s Brilliance Powers England in Record-Breaking Display

When England kicked off their 2025 summer at Trent Bridge, no one expected the contest to be over in five sessions. Yet, that’s exactly what happened as England steamrolled Zimbabwe in a four-day Test dominated from start to finish. The standout? Ollie Pope, who piled up a blistering 171 runs, setting the stage for one of the most one-sided matches seen at the famous Nottingham ground.

Pope wasted no time asserting himself. His 171 came at a pace that left Zimbabwe’s bowlers gasping, pushing England's total to a mammoth 565 for 6 declared. This total felt even bigger considering the historic context—Trent Bridge has seen some classics, but rarely have touring teams found it this tough so early in a series. By stumps on the second day, the writing was already on the wall for Zimbabwe.

• England batted just once, racking up their runs at a relentless clip.
• Ollie Pope’s hundred didn’t just boost the home crowd—it set a tone of total dominance.
• The partnership between Pope and Zak Crawley, as well as support down the order, made sure Zimbabwe were playing catch-up for the remainder of the match.

Zak Crawley’s Big Moment & Zimbabwe’s Lone Heroics

Right alongside Pope in the spotlight was Zak Crawley, who quietly ticked past the 3,000 Test runs milestone. It's a significant achievement for the opener, highlighting his steady progress in England's batting lineup. Crawley looked every bit the seasoned pro, outclassing Zimbabwe’s attack and anchoring the innings while Pope went on the offense.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe found one bright spot in Brian Bennett. Batting with grit, Bennett made a fighting 139 in the first innings. For a few sessions, his resistance gave Zimbabwe a sliver of hope, but the support just wasn’t there. England’s bowlers, led by Blessing Muzarabani and Shoaib Bashir, hunted in packs. Each picked up three wickets, ensuring that Zimbabwe couldn’t recover from their shaky starts in both innings.

After struggling to 265 in their first go and only slightly improving to 255 following on, Zimbabwe ran out of answers. England’s attack, energized by an enthusiastic Trent Bridge crowd, wrapped things up before excitement had a chance to fade from the stands. The innings and 145-run victory stands as one of England’s most convincing Test wins in recent years, underscoring just how big the gulf remains between the two sides on the international stage.

This match carried historical weight, too—their first bilateral Test since 2003. For Zimbabwe, it was a lesson in the demands of Test cricket, while for England, it was a celebration of talent, skill, and a perfect start to the summer. Few matches have showcased such clear control from the very first ball. And for Trent Bridge, it just added another unforgettable memory to the long story of English cricket.