Renshaw ton, Ellis five-for power Australia to 59-run win over Zimbabwe

HARARE  –  Matt Renshaw struck a blistering maiden ODI century before Nathan Ellis produced a sensational five-wicket haul as Australia defeated Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the opening match of their three-game series at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

Asked to bat first by Zimbabwe, Australia posted a formidable 294 for eight in their allotted 50 overs, with Renshaw anchoring the innings and providing the decisive late acceleration. The left-hander produced a superb 109 off 94 balls, including boundaries and three sixes, to register his first ODI hundred and his first international century since scoring a Test hundred against Pakistan in 2017. He was dismissed by Newman Nyamhuri with only two deliveries remaining.

Renshaw initially steadied the Australian innings through a series of partnerships before joining Ollie Peake for a valuable 75-run sixth-wicket stand. Peake made 30 from 40 balls, while Cooper Connolly earlier contributed a brisk 51 off 46 deliveries, hitting four fours and three sixes. Zimbabwe’s 20-year-old left-arm paceman Nyamhuri was the pick of the home attack, claiming five for 62 from nine overs. He became only the second Zimbabwean bowler to take five wickets in an ODI against Australia.

Chasing 295, Zimbabwe struggled from the outset and slipped to 62 for four inside 14 overs. However, captain Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine revived the hosts with a determined 98-run fifth-wicket partnership, briefly raising hopes of a successful chase. Ervine top-scored with a composed 59 off 60 balls, striking six fours and a six, before Ellis returned to break the partnership by clean bowling the left-hander for his second wicket.

Raza continued the fight and reached his half-century, but his resistance ended at 57 from 76 balls when Spencer Johnson produced a pinpoint delivery to bowl the Zimbabwean captain. Once Raza departed, Zimbabwe’s challenge rapidly faded. The hosts lost their final four wickets for just 54 runs and were eventually bowled out for 235 in 45.1 overs.

Ellis spearheaded Australia’s attack with outstanding figures of five for 31 in 9.1 overs, dismantling Zimbabwe’s lower order and completing a match-winning performance. Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Johnson, Connolly and Renshaw took one wicket each. Renshaw was named Player of the Match for his influential all-round contribution. The second ODI will be played in Harare on Friday, with the final match scheduled for Sunday. Australia will then move on to a three-match ODI series against neighbouring South Africa.

Scores in Brief

AUSTRALIA 294-8 (Renshaw 109, Connolly 51, Nyamhuri 5-62) beat ZIMBABWE 235 (Ervine 59, Raza 57, Ellis 5-31) by 59 runs.