Last Updated on 1 minute ago by Charbel Coorey
Zimbabwe and Australia have sent a reminder of the beauty of the ODI format, playing out a classic in Harare.
Australia sealed a 3-0 series sweep courtesy of a one-wicket win with a delivery to spare. At 245/9 chasing 272, another Zimbabwe win over Australia looked a formality before Nathan Ellis took the visitors home with an unbeaten, 44-ball 36.
A heartbroken Zimbabwe were left wondering how they let this match slip out of their grasp. Brad Evans was excellent throughout, while the spinners kept plugging away in the middle overs to pick up regular wickets. Wessley Madhevere’s blinder to dismiss Alex Carey at 162/3 was the catalyst of an Australian downfall, with the visitors then falling to 227/8 and 245/9 to leave the game in Zimbabwe’s hands.
With Ellis and Spencer Johnson at the crease, it looked like Josh Inglis’ 102 would be in vain. The keeper-batsman’s second ODI century formed the bedrock of Australia’s stuttering innings, but he too was undone by a nice piece of bowling by Sikandar Raza. When Zampa fell 18 runs later, the result looked a formality with 27 still needed from 28 balls.
Then came the big moment. With Ellis and Johnson wittling down the equation to 14 off 10, the former struck an Ernest Masuka delivery high over midwicket only for Madhevere to spill the chance. Ellis then bravely decided to not take a single off the last ball of the penultimate over, before hitting the first ball off the 50th over – bowled by Madhevere – for a six to bring the equation down to three off five deliveries.
Ellis then sealed the victory with a chip over midwicket to seal their fourth-straight ODI win. However, captain Mitch Marsh admitted Zimbabwe deserved the victory and acknowledged his team’s need for improvement.
“We’re aware we need to keep improving as a team. I thought the way we played over the three matches, albeit today we got lucky, but there’s lots of positive signs with our group. We’ve got some young talent which is exciting for the future,” he said after the match.
ZIM vs AUS 3rd ODI Twitter Reactions: Zimbabwe left heartbroken after ODI classic
Captain Sikandar Raza, who struck 81* and took 2/42, had to console a heartbroken Madhevere. This was one that got away from Zimbabwe, with the decision to bowl the offspinner in the final over an eyebrow raiser.
Raza praised his team, but lamented the fact that no Zimbabwe player hit a century in the series. There were multiple contributions in the final ODIs, with Innocent Kaia (55, retired hurt) and Craig Ervine (59) also hitting half-centuries.
“As a captain I’m really proud. Plenty to learn. I’d rather have a game like that than for the Aussies to just chase it down in 40 overs,” Raza said in the post-match presentation.
“A lot of positives but it’s the one that got away. One thing we’ve learned, three hundreds by the Aussies and none from us. In ODIs you need the top four getting hundreds.”
Fans took to social media to share their views on the game, both from an analytical point of view as well as how thrilling ODI cricket can be.
Australia will now travel to South Africa for a blockbuster tour of three ODIs and as many Tests. Zimbabwe’s next assignment is in the UAE, where they will play an ODI tri-series against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, followed by five T20Is and two Tests against Afghanistan.
