Matt Renshaw scored a maiden ODI century of 109 off 94 balls against Zimbabwe in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club on September 15, 2026. The innings featured seven fours and three sixes as Australia won by 59 runs, posting 294 for 8 while Zimbabwe managed 235. Renshaw brought up his hundred in 86 balls, making it the fastest century by an Australian against Zimbabwe, surpassing Adam Gilchrist’s 89-ball effort in 2004.
Renshaw had been recalled to the Test team against Bangladesh in Mackay, where he opened the innings in place of dropped Jake Weatherald. The left-hander was also the first Australian to score an ODI hundred against Zimbabwe since Michael Clarke made an unbeaten 105 at Harare in 2004. Usman Khawaja, who mentored Renshaw during their time together at Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat, has expressed strong backing for the batter’s success in Test cricket.
“Absolutely. When he was playing white-ball cricket for maybe the last year or so – T20 cricket and then into one-day cricket – I thought there was no better time for him to play Test cricket again. He had the lower gears, but he is a big boy and he can hit a big ball as we saw yesterday,” Khawaja was quoted as saying by The West Australian.
“I have no doubt he will do well. He has done well for Queensland for a long time. Hopefully he will get a pretty good stint at it, and we will see a few more runs from him. It is beautiful when you have a guy coming in at six who can bat normally as a Test opener but also has the power to clear the picket fences,” he added.
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Australia and Zimbabwe will lock horns once again on Friday, September 18, in the important second ODI at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. The Aussies will look to seal the series, while the Chevrons will have to win to keep themselves afloat.
After the ODIs against Zimbabwe, Australia will head to South Africa to play a multi-format series, including three ODIs and three Tests. The red-ball matches will be an acid test for Renshaw as an opener in the longest format.
