NEWMAN Nyamhuri produced the biggest performance of his young international career yesterday, ripping through Australia for a maiden five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe restricted the ODI world champions to 294/8 at Harare Sports Club.
The 20-year-old left-arm fast-medium bowler claimed 5/62 from nine overs after Australia won the toss and elected to bat in the opening ODI of the series.
Nyamhuri became the youngest Zimbabwean to take a five-wicket haul in ODI cricket and only the second Zimbabwean to claim five wickets in an ODI against Australia, following Ryan Burl.
It was a remarkable breakthrough for a bowler who entered the match with just five ODI wickets to his name.
Born on January 19, 2006, Nyamhuri came through Zimbabwe’s age-group system, representing the country at Under-19 and Under-25 level before graduating to the senior national side.
Before yesterday, he had played six ODIs, taking five wickets from five bowling innings, with previous best figures of 3/53. He had also featured in five Tests, taking 12 wickets, and seven T20 Internationals.
Against Australia, he doubled his ODI wicket tally in one afternoon.
And he did it against the world champions.
Australia had threatened to take the game away from Zimbabwe after Brad Evans removed Travis Head for four in the second over.
Captain Mitchell Marsh counter-attacked, smashing 36 from 28 balls, including six fours and a six, before Nyamhuri entered the story.
Marsh hammered a short and wide delivery towards cover, but Brian Bennett held a sharp catch to give Nyamhuri his first wicket and leave Australia 60/2 after nine overs.
Four overs later, Nyamhuri struck again.
Josh Inglis drove outside off and found the edge, with wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor producing a superb full-length diving catch to his right. Inglis departed for four and Australia slipped to 83/3.
Cooper Connolly steadied the innings with 51 from 46 balls, striking four fours and three sixes, before captain Sikandar Raza bowled him with Australia on 107/4.
That brought Matt Renshaw increasingly into the centre of the contest.
Renshaw rebuilt alongside Alex Carey, the pair adding 72 for the fifth wicket before Evans removed Carey for 27 from 53 deliveries.
At 179/5 after 31.3 overs, Zimbabwe were still firmly in the contest.
Renshaw then combined with Oliver Peake for a 75-run sixth-wicket partnership that carried Australia beyond 250.
Nyamhuri returned to break the stand in unusual fashion when Peake, on 30 from 40 balls, went deep into his crease and dislodged his own stumps to be out hit wicket.
Xavier Bartlett became Nyamhuri’s fourth victim for five, caught at cover, leaving the youngster one wicket short of his maiden international five-for.
Meanwhile, Renshaw marched to a fine century from 86 balls.
With Australia threatening to push beyond 300, Nyamhuri was handed another opportunity in the final over.
He took it.
Renshaw attempted to clear the leg side from the second ball of the 50th over but failed to find the distance, with Wessly Madhevere completing the catch at deep midwicket.
Renshaw departed for 109 from 94 deliveries, having struck seven fours and three sixes.
For Nyamhuri, the raised finger confirmed a landmark 5/62.
The figures comfortably eclipsed his previous ODI best of 3/53 and transformed what had previously been a modest ODI record into the finest performance of his fledgling career.
Evans provided excellent support with 2/51 from nine overs, while Raza took 1/62 from 10.
Blessing Muzarabani went wicketless but was Zimbabwe’s most economical frontline seamer, conceding only 46 from his full allocation of 10 overs.
Australia eventually closed on 294/8, with Nathan Ellis unbeaten on nine and Adam Zampa on three, leaving Zimbabwe requiring 295 for victory.
The chase will determine the result of the opening ODI.
