ZIMBABWE came within one ball and one wicket of a famous victory over Australia as the world champions scraped home in a tense final ODI at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Defending 271 for eight, the Chevrons reduced Australia to 245 for nine and stood on the brink of ending the series with a memorable win before Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson survived a nerve shredding final passage to drag the tourists to 272 for nine with just one delivery remaining.
Ellis finished unbeaten on 36 from 44 balls and Johnson seven not out, their unbroken 27 run last wicket partnership breaking Zimbabwean hearts after Brad Evans had produced an outstanding four wicket performance.
The one wicket victory completed a 3 to 0 series sweep for Australia, but the final margin barely captured a contest Zimbabwe had repeatedly threatened to seize.
Captain Sikandar Raza had earlier led from the front with an unbeaten 81 from 72 balls, while Craig Ervine made 59 and Innocent Kaia 55 before retiring hurt as Zimbabwe recovered from 68 for three to post a competitive 271 for eight.
Evans then ripped into Australia’s top order, removing Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh inside the first four overs before returning to dismiss Alex Carey and Adam Zampa.
Australia were 25 for two and later stumbled from 162 for three to 227 for eight as Zimbabwe’s bowlers tightened their grip.
But Ellis, Australia’s tormentor with five wickets in the opening ODI, returned to haunt Zimbabwe with the bat.
Zimbabwe had elected to bat first and lost Ben Curran for seven before Brian Bennett, who struck five fours and a six in a brisk 30 from 29 balls, fell to Ellis at 48 for two.
Adam Zampa then bowled Brendan Taylor for nine with a well disguised flipper to leave the hosts 68 for three.
That brought Ervine and Raza together with Kaia already beginning to construct an important innings.
Kaia struck seven boundaries in his 55 from 66 deliveries before being forced to retire hurt with Zimbabwe on 148 for three.
His departure placed greater responsibility on Ervine and Raza, who responded by building the innings steadily through the middle overs.
Ervine reached his second successive half century of the series before attempting to clear long on against Zampa and finding Matt Renshaw. His 59 from 79 balls contained five fours and helped carry Zimbabwe to 209 for four.
The Zimbabwe captain balanced accumulation with controlled aggression, striking seven fours and a six while keeping the innings together as wickets began falling around him.
Madhevere was caught for one before Evans made a useful 11 from 11 deliveries. Graeme Cremer fell for one, leaving Zimbabwe 231 for seven with just over five overs remaining.
Raza refused to allow the innings to fade.
With the lower order for company, he pushed Zimbabwe towards 270 and eventually walked off unbeaten on 81, having faced 72 deliveries at a strike rate of 112.50.
Zimbabwe closed on 271 for eight, setting Australia a target which appeared achievable but offered the hosts something to defend.
Evans immediately transformed that total into something far more imposing.
Head, who had struck 112 in the second ODI, was gone for six in the second over after flicking Evans towards deep backward square, where substitute Ryan Burl completed the catch.
The seamer then produced an excellent delivery to remove Marsh for eight, finding the inside edge for Taylor to complete a low catch.
At 25 for two, Australia had been rocked.
Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis attempted to repair the damage with a 52 run third wicket partnership before Cremer produced a classic leg spinner’s dismissal.
The ball drifted outside off before ripping back through Connolly’s gate and striking the top of off stump, sending him back for 21 and leaving Australia 77 for three.
Inglis, however, refused to yield.
He rebuilt Australia’s innings alongside Carey, reaching his half century from 47 balls as the pair gradually shifted the pressure back onto Zimbabwe.
Their partnership carried Australia to 162 before Zimbabwe produced one of the moments of the match.
Carey drove Evans firmly towards point, where Madhevere launched himself to his right and held a spectacular airborne catch.
Carey was gone for 34 and, remarkably, Evans had dismissed him in all three matches of the series.
Zimbabwe sensed another opening.
Madhevere bowled Renshaw for four before Raza entered the decisive phase of the contest.
The Zimbabwe captain trapped Oliver Peake lbw for 19 with a beautifully controlled delivery that drifted in before turning past the bat.
Cremer then struck again when Bartlett failed to pick the wrong one. The original not out decision was overturned on review after ball tracking showed the delivery crashing into leg stump.
Australia had slipped to 206 for seven.
He completed a superb century from 94 balls and appeared capable of carrying Australia home almost single handedly.
With Australia on 227, Inglis advanced down the pitch attempting to attack the Zimbabwe captain. Raza held his nerve, beat the bat and crashed the ball into off stump.
Inglis was gone for 103 from 102 balls.
Zimbabwe were suddenly two wickets away.
Ellis and Zampa pushed Australia towards the target before Evans struck for the fourth time.
Zampa pulled a short delivery towards deep square leg, where Bennett completed the catch.
Australia were 245 for nine.
One wicket separated Zimbabwe from victory. Australia still required 27.
Ellis, though, remained composed. Together with Johnson, he chipped away at the target while Zimbabwe searched desperately for the final breakthrough.
Muzarabani finished an excellent 10 overs with one maiden and only 49 runs conceded. Raza completed his allocation with two for 42, while Cremer claimed two for 53.
Evans was the outstanding bowler, returning four for 47 from his 10 overs.
Ellis and Johnson carried the chase into the final over and, with the match reduced to its last two deliveries, Australia finally drew level and then edged past Zimbabwe’s 271.
For the Chevrons, it was a cruel conclusion to their strongest performance of the series.
Raza had produced an unbeaten 81 and then taken two wickets. Ervine and Kaia had both made half centuries. Evans had ripped out four Australian batters, while Cremer marked his contribution with two wickets as Zimbabwe took the world champions to the final ball.
Australia leave Harare with a 3 to 0 series victory.
Zimbabwe leave the final match with no consolation win, but with evidence of how narrow the distance can become when their batting, bowling and fielding come together.
