Australia narrowly avoided an upset in the third and final ODI in Harare, edging out Zimbabwe by one wicket to finalize a 3-0 series sweep. The victory was secured with just a single ball remaining, thanks to a resilient unbeaten 36 from Nathan Ellis, who also contributed three crucial wickets earlier in the match.
The hosts set a competitive target of 272 for 8, their second-highest ODI total against Australia when batting first. After an early collapse reduced Zimbabwe to 68 for 3, Craig Ervine and Innocent Kaia steadied the innings with an 80-run stand. Kaia retired hurt on 55 due to a hamstring injury, leaving Sikandar Raza to anchor the later stages. Raza finished unbeaten on 81 off 72 balls, while Ervine contributed 59 before falling to Adam Zampa. Nathan Ellis was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3 for 50, whereas Xavier Bartlett recorded 10-0-69-0, the most expensive figures for an Australian bowler in the country.
Australia’s chase faced immediate pressure as openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh fell within four overs to Brad Evans, who claimed 4 for 47. A 52-run partnership between Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis provided stability, followed by an 85-run stand between Inglis and Alex Carey. Inglis anchored the innings with a masterful 103 off 102 balls, eventually falling to Raza. Following his dismissal, Australia suffered a collapse that left them needing 27 runs with only two wickets in hand.
The tension peaked as Zampa became the ninth man out, leaving Ellis at the crease with Spencer Johnson. A pivotal moment occurred in the penultimate over when a catch was dropped off Ellis by Wesley Madhevere. With nine runs required from the final six deliveries, Ellis hammered a massive six off the first ball from Madhevere, effectively swinging the momentum. He completed the chase two balls later, sealing a narrow win.
Final Scorecard: Zimbabwe 271/8 in 50 overs (Sikandar Raza 81*, Craig Ervine 59, Innocent Kaia 55 retired hurt; Nathan Ellis 3-50) lost to Australia 272/9 in 49.5 overs (Josh Inglis 103, Nathan Ellis 36*; Brad Evans 4-47) by one wicket. The report also notes that both openers fell inside the first four overs – Travis Head caught at deep square leg off Brad Evans for 6 and Mitchell Marsh holing out off the same bowler for 8 – but Cooper Connolly and Inglis steadied things with a s. The report also notes that australia’s chase had not always looked so precarious. The report also notes that and Inglis then found his best ally in Alex Carey, the pair adding 85 for the fourth wicket to drag Australia past the halfway mark, connolly was bowled by Graeme Cremer’s legbreak for 21. The report also notes that and wickets began to fall around Inglis after that, with Matt Renshaw bowled by Madhevere, Oliver Peake lbw to Raza, Xavier Bartlett lbw to Cremer, carey made a brisk 34 before Evans returned to have him caught by Madhevere at backward point. The report also notes that bringing up his century with a reverse sweep for four and going on to 103 off 102 balls before Raza, coming back for a second spell, bowled him attempting an inside-out drive, inglis kept going regardless.
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