A Finish to Remember at Harare Sports Club
Cricket doesn't get much more nerve-shredding than this. On a sunny Sunday in Harare, Australia scraped home by just one wicket in the third and final ODI against Zimbabwe, chasing down a target of 272 in 49.5 overs to win 272-9. Having been reduced to 245-9 when Josh Inglis was bowled by Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson — a genuine number ten and eleven — somehow scrambled the remaining 27 runs to complete one of the more improbable victories you'll see in this format. For those who had backed Australia on the outright series markets, this result will have felt like a very uncomfortable way to collect.
Zimbabwe Set a Competitive Target
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, and on the face of it that looked a sound decision as they posted 271-8 from their 50 overs. Sikandar Raza anchored the innings magnificently, finishing unbeaten on 81 off 72 balls — an innings played at a strike rate of 112.50 that kept Zimbabwe's score ticking along even as wickets fell around him. Craig Ervine contributed a solid 59 before being caught by Renshaw off Adam Zampa, and Innocent Kaia retired hurt having made 55. The middle order, however, was fragile; Zimbabwe slipped from 209-3 to 231-7 in the space of five overs, losing four wickets in a damaging collapse. Nathan Ellis was the pick of the Australian attack, claiming 3-50 from ten overs, while Zampa chipped in with 2-53 and Spencer Johnson took 2-23.
Australia's Chase Falls Apart Before Ellis Rescues Them
Chasing 272, Australia's reply was almost as chaotic as Zimbabwe's middle-order implosion. Travis Head fell for just 6 and Mitch Marsh was removed for 8, leaving the tourists reeling at 25-2 inside four overs. Cooper Connolly steadied things briefly with 21, but it was Josh Inglis who kept Australia genuinely in the hunt, top-scoring with a remarkable 103 off 102 balls — a century that deserved to be on the winning side, only for Raza to bowl him with Australia needing 27 more from around six overs. Alex Carey weighed in with a brisk 34 and Ellis's unbeaten 36 off 44 proved decisive. Brad Evans was Zimbabwe's standout bowler, finishing with 4-74 from ten overs and consistently threatening throughout, though he could not quite claim the wicket that would have levelled the series.
The Scorecard at a Glance
Zimbabwe: 271-8 (50 overs) — Raza 81*, Ervine 59, Kaia 55 ret. hurt; Ellis 3-50, Zampa 2-53. Australia: 272-9 (49.5 overs) — Inglis 103, Ellis 36*; Evans 4-74, Cremer 2-53. Australia won by 1 wicket.
Conclusion
From a coaching perspective, I'd argue Zimbabwe did enough to win this match — Raza's captaincy and Evans' bowling were both excellent — but Test cricket and ODI cricket alike have a habit of rewarding those who stay at the crease longest. Ellis and Johnson showed real composure under extraordinary pressure. For bettors who had Zimbabwe priced attractively going into that final over, it was a heartbreaking conclusion. Australia will head home relieved; Zimbabwe will rue a game they had well within their grasp.
