Ian Chadband
Travis Head has returned to his blistering best after a lean spell with a 75-ball century to help power Australia to a convincing 84-run victory over Zimbabwe in Harare and wrap up their ODI series triumph.
Stand-in captain Mitch Marsh, who cracked a fine half-century himself, saluted “a complete performance” as the world champs found a new gear following their opening win on Tuesday and moved into a 2-0 series lead with a match still to come.
Head hadn’t mustered more than 26 in any of his last eight knocks in all cricket, including Tests and IPL fare, but the left-hander was back at his intimidating best on Friday (Saturday AEST) as he crushed 112 off 84 balls to spearhead Australia’s formidable 6-356 after being asked to bat.
In reply, the hosts never looked like challenging as the return of Josh Hazlewood (2-48), and a couple of wickets apiece for the spin trio of Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly and part-timer Matt Renshaw, ensured Zimbabwe could muster only 272 off their 48.3 overs.
Connolly, able to bowl his left-arm spin again after five months when he was unable to do so because of back trouble, delivered another fine all-round performance.
The left-hander built on the magnificent start provided by Head and captain Mitch Marsh, who put on a thunderous opening stand of 130 off 19 overs, as he followed up with 78 off 69 balls. Rising star Ollie Peake then chipped in with 41no off 18 balls, with three sixes, to give the innings a rousing finale.
Connolly also took a catch and the final two wickets of Zimbabwe’s innings off successive balls to finish with 2-25.
It also proved a landmark day for Australia’s premier white-ball spinner Zampa (2-62) as he picked up his 200th ODI wicket.
The only downside for Australia, who are using this trip to Africa as a reconnaissance mission before next year’s defence of their ODI World Cup, was an injury to paceman Billy Stanlake, who went down with a side strain in his fifth over.
“No update yet on Billy, but hopefully he’s OK,” reported Marsh afterwards.
“I thought it was a complete performance from the boys.
“The way Travis batted gave us a platform for the middle-order, and it was great to see Cooper Connolly and Peakey play roles like that.
“Then, when big Billy went down, our part-time bowlers and allrounders really stepped up in those conditions. They all loved it and were keen for it.”
Hazlewood’s recall also brought real control, the veteran quick and Stanlake coming in to replace Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson.
But might things have been very different if Marsh hadn’t been dropped at backward point by Wessly Madhevere off Blessing Muzarabani’s first ball of the game after Zimbabwe had inserted Australia?
After that, the aggressive openers simply took the game away, hitting three sixes apiece as they raced to 78 off the 10-over powerplay, with Head going on to make his eighth ODI ton after Marsh had brought up his 21st half-century off 52 deliveries with a maximum.
Head’s 112 was the highest one-day score by an Australian against Zimbabwe, while Josh Inglis backed up with 21, Alex Carey 20 and first-match centurion Renshaw 15.
Excellent captain Sikandar Raza top-scored for Zimbabwe with 45 while his fellow 40-year-old Brendan Taylor, who only on Tuesday replaced India great Sachin Tendulkar as the longest-serving ODI player, amassed 39 but while the hosts’ top-order got starts, none could kick on.
The final match of the series will be played at Harare on Sunday before the tour rolls on to South Africa for three ODIs and three Tests.
AAP
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