ZIMBABWE made Australia work for their series clinching victory, mounting a spirited pursuit of a towering 357 before going down by 84 runs in the second ODI at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
The Chevrons reached 272 in 48.3 overs, with captain Sikandar Raza making 45, Brendan Taylor 39, Craig Ervine 38 and Innocent Kaia 34 after Australia had powered to 356 for six on the back of Travis Head’s 112 and Cooper Connolly’s 78.
The result gave the world champions an unassailable 2 to 0 lead in the three match series, but Zimbabwe improved considerably on their 235 in the opening ODI and showed greater depth with the bat, six of their top eight reaching double figures.
Zimbabwe elected to field and endured a difficult opening as Head and Mitchell Marsh put on 130 for the first wicket.
Wellington Masakadza finally broke through with the last ball of the 19th over, producing a beauty that turned past Marsh’s defensive stroke and clipped the top of off stump. The Australian captain departed for 53 from 63 balls.
Head continued the assault, racing to 112 from 84 deliveries with 15 fours and three sixes before Wessly Madhevere deceived him in flight and Ryan Burl completed the catch at cover point.
Masakadza struck again when Josh Inglis chipped a return catch for 21, while Brad Evans led Zimbabwe’s late fightback with three wickets.
Evans removed Alex Carey for 20 before denying Connolly a century on 78, Taylor safely gathering a towering top edge.
Kaia then produced Zimbabwe’s outstanding moment in the field, charging forward from deep square leg and diving low to dismiss Matt Renshaw for 15. The catch gave Evans his third wicket.
Masakadza finished with two for 51 from nine overs, Madhevere took one for 52, while Evans returned three for 86.
Australia still found another gear through Oliver Peake, whose unbeaten 41 came from only 18 balls and contained three sixes, carrying the tourists to 356 for six.
Zimbabwe began their demanding chase sensibly, Bennett and Ben Curran taking them to 41 without loss after 10 overs.
Matt Renshaw’s spin then removed both openers, bowling Bennett for 23 and Curran for 30 to leave Zimbabwe 60 for two.
Kaia and Taylor steadied the innings with a 55 run third wicket partnership before Adam Zampa produced a googly to bowl Kaia for 34 and claim his 200th ODI wicket.
Taylor maintained the momentum with 39 from 40 balls before becoming Peake’s first ODI wicket, leaving Zimbabwe 159 for four.
Ervine and Raza kept the chase alive, but the size of the target demanded acceleration. Ervine made 38 from 39 before Marsh took a sharp catch at short third off Zampa.
At 187 for five, Raza was left carrying Zimbabwe’s challenge.
Evans contributed 12 before Madhevere provided a late burst of aggression, cracking 26 from just 13 balls with four boundaries as Zimbabwe surged past 250.
Hazlewood trapped Madhevere lbw before bowling Nyamhuri two deliveries later, but Raza continued fighting.
The Zimbabwe captain eventually fell for 45 from 49 balls at 272 for nine, attempting to clear long off against Connolly. Muzarabani was bowled next ball to end the innings, with Masakadza unbeaten on 10.
Zimbabwe’s 272 represented an improved batting return from the opening ODI, with contributions spread through the order rather than resting on one partnership.
Australia had the bigger individual innings in Head’s century and Connolly’s 78, but Zimbabwe refused to fold under the weight of a 357 run target.
The series is gone at 2 to 0.
