Riding on Matt Renshaw’s (109) maiden ODI century and a brilliant five-wicket haul by fast bowler Nathan Ellis (5/35), Australia defeated Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the first ODI. The win, played at the Sports Club Ground, gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Mitchell Marsh, who led the team in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, started the series with a win.

Aus vs Zim 1st ODI: Matt Renshaw’s century, Nathan Ellis’s claws power Australia to a 59-run win

Renshaw and Connolly steadied the innings after a poor start.

Australia, who lost the toss and elected to bat first, had a poor start. Opener Travis Head departed cheaply for just 4 runs. Captain Mitchell Marsh (36) and Cooper Connolly then added 50 runs for the second wicket. Josh Inglis (4) also failed to make much of a mark after Marsh’s dismissal.

In the middle order, Cooper Connolly scored a half-century of 51 runs, while Alex Carey contributed 27 runs. Matt Renshaw, who came to bat after Connolly’s dismissal, hit shots all around the field. Renshaw scored 109 runs in 94 balls, which included 7 fours and 3 sixes. In the lower order, Oliver Peak added 30 runs and took the team’s score to 294 runs for 8 wickets. Newman Nyamhuri took 5 wickets for Zimbabwe.

Raza and Ervine’s fight back, Ellis takes 5 wickets

Chasing a target of 295, Zimbabwe got off to a disastrous start. They lost their top four batsmen for just 62 runs. Craig Ervine (59) and captain Sikandar Raza (57) then tried to claw back into the match with a fighting fifth-wicket partnership.

“After the early setbacks, Raza and Ervine kept Zimbabwe’s hopes alive, but Nathan Ellis’ lethal bowling saw them all out for 235 in 45.1 overs.”
— Match report, Harare Sports Club

Australia has a strong hold on the series

Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis took 5 wickets for 35 runs in 9.1 overs. This was his first five-wicket haul in ODIs. With this win, Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series. The second ODI between the two teams will be played at the same venue.