Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEWMAN NYAMHURI became the youngest Zimbabwean to claim a fiver in One Day International cricket, but his efforts were overshadowed by the 59 runs defeat to Australia in the first ODI between the two sides at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
On a day of firsts, Australia’s Matt Henshaw also had a moment to savour after he scored his maiden century that propelled his team to a challenging total of 294/8 in their 50 overs.
The tourists had the last laugh after restricting the hosts to 235 in 45.1 overs, thanks to their high-quality bowling and the pace variations that puzzled the home side.
Medium-fast bowler Nathan Ellis finished with a career-best 5-31 while Adam Zampa was left just one wicket away from his 200th ODI-wicket milestone after he was rewarded with a late wicket.
There were also wickets each for Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, and Renshaw.
To their credit, the Chevrons battled hard against the world champions, with experienced hands Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza leading the fight with half centuries apiece.
But the difference in class showed at last, as the hosts fell short in pursuit of an ambitious target and a gradually rising required run rate.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was disappointed by the result, although he found comfort in his team’s fighting spirit ahead of the second ODI on Friday.
“Yes, we are disappointed because we felt like we were in the game as well. I know we didn’t start really well, but I thought the way the boys got back into the game was certainly very good.
“But having said that, I think this is a game that just got better for us,” said Raza.
Henshaw’s 109 runs made the huge difference, after Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Fast bowler Brad Evans gave the home side an early breakthrough when he removed Travis Head (4) with an excel-lent delivery in the second over when the opening pair had put on only 10 runs on the board.
However, his partner Mitchell Marsh, who also marked a milestone 100th match for Australia as the side’s stand-in captain, ensured the Baggy Greens continued scoring at a healthy run rate, with an aggressive 36 from 28 balls.
Marsh, who spent part of his childhood years in Zimbabwe, batted with confidence before he became Nyamhuri’s first victim, caught at cover by Brian Bennett.
By the time of his departure, Australia had begun to stabilise their ship with a 50-run partnership for the second wicket with Connolly which needed just 43 balls.
Connolly played a fearless innings, contributing 51 runs from 46 balls.
But the visitors slid to 107/4 in the 18th over, before Renshaw took over the show. The left-hander anchored the middle order with a magnificent ton, perishing only in the final over after propelling the visitors to a formidable total.
Playing in his 10th ODI for the Aussies, Renshaw bettered his previous best of 61 runs against Pakistan last year. His knock yesterday included seven boundaries and three maximums.
He featured in two big partnerships, adding 72 runs for the fifth wicket with Alex Carey and then 75 runs for the sixth with Oliver Peake.
Although Zimbabwe’s bowlers continued to ask questions and were rewarded with eight wickets against the world champions, they had no solution to plug the runs.
Nyamhuri was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers, although a bit expensive with his 5-62.
At 20 years and 239 days, Nyamhuri is regarded as one for the future of Zimbabwean cricket, and yesterday he demonstrated his potential against the world champions.
His previous best was 3/53 against Afghanistan in 2024.
Zimbabwe captain Raza was impressed by Nyamhuri, who superseded Luke Jongwe as the youngest to achieve the feat. Jongwe was 20 years and 330 days old when he finished with an incredible 5-6 against Afghanistan in 2016 in Sharjah.
“I am very happy for the young man. It’s nice that he’s put his hand up, because we certainly are missing Graeme (Cremer) as well, and as a country, we want to keep improving our pool of players.
“Newman has come up, and he’s been a revelation as well, and with time he’ll get better. Hopefully, he’ll pick many more fivers. But, certainly the first fiver is very special, and to do it against Australia is even better, so really happy and really proud,” said Raza.
Just like Australia, Zimbabwe’s chase suffered an early upset when Ben Curran walked back in the second over with-out scoring.
Zimbabwe suffered further setbacks, losing Innocent Kaia (14), Brian Bennett (25) and Brendan Taylor (4) and were facing a huge uncertainty with the scoreboard reading 62/4 in the 14th over.
But former captain Craig Ervine (59 off 60) and Raza (57) stirred renewed hope with a 98-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The duo proceeded with caution, looking for gaps and getting a boundary here and there in a promising partnership that took up just 104 balls.
But the game continued to veer away from the hosts as the Australian bowlers piled on the pressure. Australia stand-in captain Mitch Marsh was excited to win the first of the three-match series.
“It’s a huge honour to represent Australia at all times, and always really important to bring the series to the start with a win.
“Yeah, we lost a couple of wickets in that little patch around the middle there. But I thought the way Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw built that partnership, obviously down to Matt Renshaw’s innings, was fantastic, and got us to a really just above-par total,” said Marsh.
The second match will be played at the same venue on Friday.
