Online Reporter
HE is only 20 but his record-breaking feat against Australia at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday has thrust him into the global spotlight.
Newman Nyamhuri, the 20-yearear-old left-arm seamer, bagged a career-best 5 for 62 in the Chevrons defeat to the Aussies in the first ODI of a three-match series.
He became the youngest Zimbabwean to take an ODI five-for at 20 years and 239 days old.
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, 40-year-old Brendan Taylor became the player with the longest ODI career – of 22 years and 148 days.
He beat the record which had been set by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
After Australia opted to bat first in the absence of Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood, Nyamhuri kept on taking wickets in regular intervals before eventually finishing his spell with superb figures of 9-0-62-5.
In the process, he did something for the very first time which no Zimbabwean pacer had ever done in the history of the duels against the mighty Aussies.
There had been 33 ODIs in the past between the two sides, but no pacer from the country had achieved the same.
Only Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl had a five-wicket haul in ODIs against Australia, but he is a leg-spinner.
Besides, Nyamhuri is just 20-years-old, and he had played six ODIs, 5 T20Is and 7 T20Is before that.
However, until now he hadn’t done anything as exceptional as his stunning performance against the Aussies.
He took the wickets of Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Oliver Peake and centurion Matt Renshaw.
He replaced Luke Jongwe to become the youngest Zimbabwean bowler to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs.
He also emerged as the third-youngest bowler to do the same in ODIs.
He had an economy rate of 10.43 during Zimbabwe’s recent T20I series against India.
He played all three matches and took only one wicket.
However, that wicket was big, and it was of ICC’s No. 1 T20I batter, Ishan Kishan.
After that, Newman was in action during Namibia T20I Tri-Series 2026.
He picked up four wickets in as many matches, including a 2/51 in the final against South Africa.
There, he had an economy rate of 10.64.
Safe to say, his economy rate is one area which needs to be worked upon.
Best Bowling Figures For ZIM vs AUS In ODIs
Ryan Burl – 5/10
Newman Nyamhuri – 5/62
Duncan Fletcher – 4/42
Grant Flower – 3/15
Heath Streak – 3/45
Youngest Zimbabwe Bowler To Take A Five-Wicket Haul In ODIs
20y 239d – Newman Nyamhuri vs Australia, Harare, (5/62), Today*
20y 330d – Luke Jongwe vs Afghanistan, Sharjah, 2016 (5/6)
21y 171d – Brian Vitori vs Bangladesh, Harare, 2011 (5/30)
Youngest Bowlers To Take A Five-Wicket Haul Vs Australia In ODIs
18y 266d – Wasim Akram (Pakistan), Melbourne, 1985 (5/21)
19y 352d – Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan), Adelaide, 1996 (5/29)
20y 239d – Newman Nyamhuri (Zimbabwe), Harare, 2026 (5/62), Tuesday
21y 148d – Arafat Minhas (Pakistan), Rawalpindi, 2026 (5/32) – Sports Reporter/Agencies
