England Enforces Follow-On as Bennett Makes History

England enforced the follow-on in the one-off Test at Trent Bridge after dismissing Zimbabwe for 265 in their first innings, leaving them 300 runs behind England's declared 565-6. Zimbabwe closed day two at 30-2 in their second innings, still trailing by 270 runs and facing long odds to avoid defeat. Brian Bennett starred with a historic 139, reaching his century in just 97 balls—the fastest Test hundred by a Zimbabwean—and benefitted from a dropped catch. Ben Stokes made an impactful return to bowling after surgery, taking two wickets in 11 balls to help expose Zimbabwe’s tail. The match marks Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in over two decades, and Bennett became just the third Zimbabwean to score a Test century against England. The lopsided contest has prompted renewed calls for implementing a two-division Test structure.