Aussies chasing 272 after Raza leads Zimbabwe in third ODI

Australia will have their work cut out chasing 272 on a used Harare Sports Club wicket but the damage was limited by a Nathan Ellis-led fightback and an ill-timed injury to Innocent Kaia.

Ellis snared 3-50 from his 10 overs and engineered a late collapse of 4-22 after Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza elected to bat in a bid to make use of a wearing surface, which was also used for Friday's second ODI.

A 300-plus score looked for the taking but Raza's unbeaten 81 off only 72 balls has left Australia needing their biggest run chase in Africa since 2002.

Having won after batting first in the opening two one-dayers, the pursuit of a sizeable score shapes as a handy test for the defending world champions ahead of next year's World Cup in southern Africa.

After slumping to 3-68, the hosts finally got a meaningful contribution from one of their top three as Kaia struck seven fours on the way to 55 from 66, taking the hosts to 3-148 in an 80-run stand with Craig Ervine (59 off 75).

But their strong platform was compromised when Kaia hurt his right hamstring running a quick single. He faced two more balls after a lengthy examination from medicos before limping off, retiring hurt and not returning.

Zimbabwe were still only three wickets down at the start of their final 10-over dash. But they managed only 65 more runs from those last 60 balls as the exit of Ervine, caught at long-off off Zampa, sparked the late stumble.

Ellis struck twice in that period, including a devastating yorker that smashed 40-year-old Graeme Cremer on the foot in his first ODI in eight years.

The home side would have sunk further still if not for Raza, fresh off scores of 45 and 57 in the first two games, as he recorded the highest score by a Zimbabwean in the series.

The veteran allrounder hit seven fours and a six off Zampa that flew over the Zimbabwe player families viewing marquee.

Spencer Johnson (2-50) had a solid outing along with Zampa (2-54), while Xavier Bartlett mixed a sequence of unplayable early deliveries with some freebies, coughing up 39 from his first five overs and later misfielding a ball through his legs on the long-on boundary.

Bartlett redeemed himself somewhat with a solid final over of the innings, flummoxing the set Raza with a series of slower balls.

Australia XI: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Matt 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, Graeme Cremer, Ernest Masuku, 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), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, 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