England wrapped up a dominant innings-and-45-run victory over Zimbabwe within three days at Trent Bridge, giving them a perfect warm-up before their upcoming Test series against India. Shoaib Bashir’s brilliant nine-wicket haul and a gravity-defying one-handed catch by Harry Brook were the standout moments in a match filled with drama and dominance.

Quick Read:

• England defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 45 runs at Trent Bridge.

• Match ended inside three days—England now gets extra rest before India series.

• Shoaib Bashir took 6 wickets in the second innings and 9 in the match.

• Harry Brook pulled off an incredible one-handed slip catch to dismiss Madhevere.

• Sean Williams’ counterattacking 88 was the highlight for Zimbabwe.

• England’s bowlers overcame Zimbabwe’s third-wicket resistance.

• Brook’s catch compared to Ben Stokes’ 2015 Ashes heroics.

England couldn’t have asked for a better tune-up ahead of their India series than what they delivered at Trent Bridge. Inside just three days, the hosts swept Zimbabwe aside with a commanding innings-and-45-run win. But beyond the scoreline, this Test will be remembered for two unforgettable moments—Shoaib Bashir’s match-winning nine-wicket performance and a jaw-dropping catch from Harry Brook that left even his captain, Ben Stokes, wide-eyed in disbelief.

Let’s start with Brook’s stunner. Zimbabwe had mounted a mini fightback through Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza, building a solid fifth-wicket stand of 65. Then came the turning point. Stokes bowled a delivery that bounced a bit more than expected, found the edge of Madhevere’s bat—and out of nowhere, Brook launched himself to his left and plucked the ball out of the air with a single hand at slip. The sheer athleticism of the moment echoed Ben Stokes’ iconic catch from the 2015 Ashes at this very ground. Only this time, it was Stokes watching the magic unfold.

Stokes couldn’t believe it—and to be fair, neither could the crowd. It was the kind of moment that stops time, one that will be replayed endlessly across social media and cricket reels for years to come.

Before and after that brilliance, it was Shoaib Bashir who quietly dismantled Zimbabwe’s hopes. The young off-spinner continued to make a strong case for long-term inclusion in England’s Test plans by picking up 6 for 81 in the second innings and 9 wickets in the match overall. His bowling was sharp, patient, and perfectly adapted to Trent Bridge’s conditions.

Zimbabwe had resumed the day at 30 for 2, still trailing England by 270 runs. Sean Williams, their most experienced player, fought hard. He put the England quicks under pressure with a fearless 42-ball half-century, carving anything wide through the off-side. Together with Ben Curran—yes, the brother of England’s Sam Curran—the duo stitched together a 122-run partnership that gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope.

But Bashir had other plans. First, he trapped Curran leg-before—only to see it overturned thanks to DRS. No matter. He returned soon after and got Curran caught by Stokes, who finally held onto the catch after two earlier drops. Then Bashir sent back Williams, getting him lbw shortly after lunch, nailing a fuller ball on the pads that beat the bat.

Still, Zimbabwe weren’t done yet. Raza and Madhevere dug in and looked to take the game deep. But just when things started looking steady, Brook happened. That stunning one-hander not only broke the partnership but broke Zimbabwe’s back too.

From there, Bashir mopped up the lower order with precision. He dismissed Raza, ended any lingering hopes of a Zimbabwe comeback, and finally wrapped up the innings by trapping Tanaka Chivanga leg-before. Zimbabwe were all out for 255—still 45 runs short of making England bat again.

And with that, the game was done and dusted before the weekend could even get started. England earned themselves a full rest day on Sunday—and probably spent a chunk of it rewatching Brook’s miracle catch.

This win won’t just go down as another routine home victory. It was a complete team effort, with a young spinner rising through the ranks and a slip fielder producing a moment of pure magic. More importantly, it sets the tone perfectly as England now gear up to host India from June 20 in what promises to be a blockbuster Test series.

With confidence high, a bowling unit firing on all cylinders, and their fielders pulling off miracles, England’s summer of cricket is off to a flying start.