Australia completed a thrilling one-wicket victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday, September 20, with the hosts needing just one ball to defend when the final wicket fell. The win gave Australia a clean sweep of the three-match series, concluding their first tour to Zimbabwe in 12 years. The Australian squad, which had rested several regulars for the tour, now prepares to move on to South Africa for three ODI fixtures.
Josh Inglis, the Australian batter, reflected on the dramatic finish and its significance for the team’s preparation ahead of the World Cup in 12 months. Inglis had scored 103 off 102 balls in Australia’s innings, marking his second ODI hundred. His dismissal came when he ran past a delivery from Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, leaving Australia still needing 45 runs with two wickets remaining.
“I think it’s really important. We just play a lot of T20 cricket now, and it’s just me finding the right tempo for one day cricket, and I think I sort of found that today. Playing in a slightly different role with a younger team, I’ve probably got to take some more responsibility in batting at No. 4. I know it [his batting] is something he works on a lot. He obviously plays a lot of T20 cricket, and when he comes into bat, he has got the ability to hit a long ball. It was a great shot and got us on the front foot in that last over,” said Inglis as quoted by Cricinfo.
“We just play a lot of T20 cricket now, and it’s just me finding the right tempo for one day cricket, and I think I sort of found that today. Playing in a slightly different role with a younger team, I’ve probably got to take some more responsibility in batting at No. 4. The way I wanted to play was to sort of own those middle overs, just keep the scoreboard ticking over and be there towards the end. I wasn’t there right at the end, but to get there until the 40th over and get a hundred, I’m happy with it,” he added.
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Nathan Ellis proved crucial in Australia’s chase, posting his highest ODI score with an unbeaten 36 from 44 deliveries. Ellis had earlier taken 3 for 50 with the ball during Zimbabwe’s innings. In the final over, Ellis struck the first delivery from Wessly Madhevere over long-on for a crucial boundary, moments after Madhevere had dropped him at the same position. Spencer Johnson, Australia’s number 11, contributed 7 off 13 balls in a match-winning tenth-wicket stand of 27 runs that secured the victory.
Finding the right tempo for one-day cricket
Zimbabwe’s innings was anchored by an unbeaten 81 from 72 balls by captain Sikandar Raza. Craig Ervine scored 59 from 79 balls and Innocent Kaia made 55 from 66 balls before retiring hurt with a hamstring injury when the score was 3-148, as he could no longer run between the wickets. Despite these strong individual performances, Zimbabwe could not defend their total in the final over.
This was Australia’s second one-wicket victory in their last four ODIs, following a similar narrow escape against Bangladesh in Mirpur earlier in 2026. Pat Cummins, Australia’s official ODI captain, and Mitchell Starc will rejoin the squad for the South Africa tour. Billy Stanlake suffered a side strain during the second match in Harare and his tour was likely over.
