Head slams first ton since Ashes but win soured by Stanlake injury

Travis Head's first century since last summer's Ashes fired Australia to a much-needed ODI series victory, but their 84-run win over Zimbabwe in Harare was soured by a side injury to fast bowler Billy Stanlake.

Head snapped a run of four consecutive chop-ons with a brutal display of ball-striking that yielded 112 runs from only 84 balls and took Australia to 6-356 – their equal second-highest score since the last World Cup, and their largest ever against Zimbabwe.

Josh Hazlewood took his first steps in Africa towards next month's Tests against the Proteas, returning 2-48 and looking every bit the thoroughbred. He sent down a maiden to Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza in the 41st over of the chase when the asking run-rate had gone beyond 15 per over, before knocking two of Newman Nyamhuri's stumps out of the ground with a late yorker.

Adam Zampa meanwhile became the second Australian spinner to take 200 men's ODI wickets, celebrating with typical understatement when he bowled Innocent Kaia with a peach of a wrong'un.

It set the series ledger at 2-0 with one more match against Zimbabwe to come on Sunday, again at Harare Sports Club, before the Aussies head to South Africa for three more ODIs. This series win is only their second from their last seven.

Head had needed just 32 balls to reach his fifty and then 75 to bring up his eighth ODI hundred, celebrating with a series of cheeky gestures to the team dugout. After hitting 15 boundaries, he was finally out caught trying to hoist his fourth six, skying a catch off Wessly Madhevere's off-spin.

Stanlake, the beanpole paceman who in June returned to international cricket after a seven-year absence, clutched his left side muscle three balls into his fifth over, his second of a new spell after opening the bowling.

The 31-year-old had been all smiles before play when he posed for a photo with fellow two-metre quick Blessing Muzarabani, recreating one taken in his first coming as an Australian cricketer in Harare eight years ago.

But it was a heartbreaking way for his game – and probably his tour – to end. He was expected to be sent for medical scans on Saturday.

Australia could conceivably manage without him over their next four ODIs with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to join the white-ball group in Durban next week and Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett riding the bench on Friday. Allrounder Cameron Green is also firming for a return from a sore shoulder in the third ODI.

Yet, with the Aussies reduced to three frontline bowlers and question marks hovering over the quality of their auxiliary options, the hosts failed to press home the advantage.

Brian Bennett (23 off 34) and Ben Curran (30 off 46) only managed 44 off the first 11 overs of the chase before both were bowled by Matthew Renshaw's off-spin, while Kaia (34 off 47) also failed to show the requisite intensity as Cooper Connolly, Ollie Peake and Travis Head all snuck in cheap post-Powerplay overs.

They dug a deep hole for the middle order. Brendan Taylor (39 off 40), Craig Ervine (38 off 39) and Raza (45 off 49) did their best to keep their side in the hunt, but skipper Mitch Marsh effectively rotated through his two remaining seam options and army of spinners.

If the Castle Corner fans were disheartened by Zimbabwe's stumbling pursuit, their simmering afternoon energy gave no sign; one patron, with drink in hand, even took a shortcut in front of the sightscreen to get back to the dancing right before Nathan Ellis was about to bowl.

His team inserted by Raza, Head had shared in a power-packed 130-run opening stand with Marsh (53 from 63), while Connolly also continued his strong ODI form. His 78 off 69 came after hitting 51 in the series opener and 149 in Australia's previous ODI.

Peake then gave another glimpse of his rare talent. The 20-year-old is far from a power hitter but he carted Brad Evans (3-86 from nine overs) for three final-over sixes in a blazing late cameo of 41 off 18. His day got better when he took his maiden wicket, having Taylor caught sweeping.

Zimbabwe were sloppy in the field – Marsh earnt a reprieve first ball of the game by Madhevere, before Nyamhuri dropped a top-edged Renshaw hook in the death overs.

The dry surface slowed Australia's scoring somewhat through the middle overs when they had initially looked on track for 400-plus. Wellington Masakadza (2-51 off nine) did his best to put the brakes on, though Connolly and Peake cleared the fence three times apiece to keep Australia's momentum going.

All told the visitors smote a dozen sixes over Harare's large boundaries thanks to the thin Highveld air.

Alex Carey's batting struggles continued however, the left-hander caught at point for a second consecutive innings. After making 20 here, he has now passed 30 just once in his last 15 international innings. 

Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake

 

Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Brendan Taylor (wk), Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani

Qantas tour of Zimbabwe 2026

All matches broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 59 runs

Second ODI: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs

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

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, 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, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster