Online Reporter
NEWMAN Nyamhuri took five wickets but a maiden ODI century from Matt Renshaw and Nathan Ellis’s first five-wicket haul in international cricket helped Australia brush aside Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the opening ODI in Harare.
Nyamhuri was the star of the Chevrons with his five-wicket haul but it came in a losing cause.
Renshaw helped Australia recover from a precarious position to eventually post a formidable total on the board before Ellis struck at different stages of the run chase to subdue Zimbabwe despite a fighting partnership between veterans Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine.
Zimbabwe made a disastrous start in pursuit of 295 when Ben Curran chipped one tamely to mid off and departed for a duck.
Brian Bennett gave his side some hope with some early boundaries, including a six off Spencer Johnson, but Ellis quickly put Australia in control with a double strike in his opening over.
Innocent Kaia was first foxed by Ellis’s trademark slower delivery before Bennett edged one behind.
While Ervine made a positive start to his innings, Brendan Taylor didn’t last long as he lofted one straight to long-on to gift his wicket to Renshaw.
Raza and Ervine then joined forces to stem the rot with the latter in particular looking in sublime touch.
The two batters revived the chase at the halfway mark with their excellent partnership. In the process, two batters aged over 40 registered half-centuries, a first in the history of ODIs.
But once again, Ellis proved to be the thorn in the flesh for Zimbabwe as he returned to the attack to break the crucial stand.
To make matters worse, an injured Raza was castled by Spencer Johnson a few overs later that pretty much appeared to end Zimbabwe’s hopes.
The home side’s lower order did put up a fight to drag the chase into the death overs but Ellis came back for his final spell and finished the game for good by adding two more to his tally that gave him a five-fer. – Cricbuzz
