Travis Head’s blazing 112 set up Australia’s 84-run win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI in Harare on Friday, sealing the three-match series with a game to spare.
Head smashed his eighth ODI century from 75 balls and finished with 112 off 84, driving Australia to their highest ODI total against Zimbabwe, 356 for 6. Cooper Connolly added 78, Mitchell Marsh made 53 and Ollie Peake hammered an 18-ball 41 to push the total beyond 350.
Zimbabwe needed their highest successful ODI chase after Australia set 357, but their reply never gained enough momentum. Sikandar Raza top-scored with 45, while only one Zimbabwe partnership passed 50 as they folded for 272 in the penultimate over.
Head and Marsh put Australia in control during the opening stand. Head raced to 48 off his first 27 balls and reached his hundred at the halfway mark of the innings, making it the fastest century by an Australian against Zimbabwe. Marsh, more watchful early on, reached his fifty from 52 balls before Wellington Masakadza bowled him.
Head eventually fell to a slower delivery from Wessly Madhevere, but Australia kept attacking. Connolly continued his excellent form with his third fifty-plus score in as many innings, while Peake produced the late surge with 41 from 18 balls.
Australia’s innings featured 27 fours and 12 sixes. Their charge could have started differently, however, after Marsh offered a difficult chance from the opening ball, only for Wessly Madhevere to spill it at backward point.
Zimbabwe also struggled to contain Australia’s bowlers. Josh Hazlewood returned to the side and took 2 for 48 from nine overs, while Adam Zampa claimed his 200th ODI wicket by bowling Innocent Kaia with a googly. Renshaw also struck twice and Connolly took a wicket.
Australia had to use eight bowlers after Billy Stanlake left the field during his fifth over, clutching his side. The injury forced Mitchell Marsh to turn to several spin options as Zimbabwe chased.
Kaia and Brendan Taylor briefly rebuilt Zimbabwe’s innings, but Zampa broke the third-wicket stand and Taylor later fell to Ollie Peake, who claimed his maiden international wicket. Madhevere struck 26 from 13 balls before Hazlewood and Stanlake’s replacement options finished the job.
Australia now lead the series 2-0 with the final ODI still to play.
