Matthew Renshaw and Cooper Connolly vindicated skipper Mitch Marsh’s decision to bat first in Harare
Matthew Renshaw’s first international century in a decade has fired Australia to an imposing first-innings tally just shy of 300 in their series-opening ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare.
Batting at six, Renshaw’s brilliant 109 underpinned the visitors’ 8-294. The left-hander had arrived at the crease after the Aussies had lost their entire top four inside their first 18 overs.
But 72- and 75-run unions with Alex Carey (27 off 53) and Ollie Peake (30 off 40) has left their opponents needing a big effort. Only once in the past six years have Zimbabwe chased this many in an ODI against a full member nation.
Renshaw beamed after reaching his maiden ODI ton in the closing stages of the innings. He had not scored a hundred in any international format since his 184 against Pakistan in the 2017 SCG Test.
Captain Mitch Marsh (36 off 28) and Cooper Connolly (51 off 46) looked on track for big scores themselves on an easy-paced surface but both failed to push on as the home side took regular wickets.
Travis Head (4) was out chopping on for a fourth consecutive international innings, while Josh Inglis (4) fell victim to a one-handed hanger from 41-year-old wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor.
Newman Nyamhuri, the 20-year-old left-arm quick, walked off holding the ball aloft after recording his maiden international five-for (5-62), sealed when Renshaw skied a final-over slog.
Australia XI: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Matthew Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Brendan Taylor (wk), Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani
Qantas tour of Zimbabwe 2026
All matches broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket
First ODI: September 15, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)
Second ODI: September 18, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)
Third ODI: September 20, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)
Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa