(ESPNCRICINFO) – Australia’s southern African early summer began with success as they beat Zimbabwe by 59 runs in an entertaining first ODI in Harare. Matt Renshaw’s first ODI hundred took them to a competitive total on a good batting track. Then it was over to Nathan Ellis, who varied his pace, hit good lengths and found late movement to claim a career-best 5 for 31 to ensure Zimbabwe could not chase it down.
But the visitors weren’t the only ones celebrating significant milestones. Newman Nyamhuri, the 20-year-old left-arm seamer, bagged a career-best 5 for 62 and became the youngest Zimbabwean to take an ODI five-for at 20 years and 239 days old. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, 40-year-old Brendan Taylor became the player with the longest ODI career – of 22 years and 148 days – beating Sachin Tendulkar.
Despite the result, Zimbabwe were in the contest at various stages, including at the very start. They got a wicket in the second over when Travis Head played Brad Evans into his stumps to record his fourth successive drag-on. Zimbabwe had Australia 10 for 1 but could not sustain the pressure. Evans and Blessing Muzarabani routinely offered too much width or bowled too short as Mitchell Marsh and Cooper Connolly hit eight fours and a six between them in the first eight overs.
The first bowling change separated them. With his eye in, Marsh smashed Nyamhuri to Brian Bennett at cover to depart for 36. Nyamhuri got a second thanks to Taylor, who went full stretch to his right to take a one-handed catch off a Josh Inglis edge. From there, Zimbabwe were able to take some control of proceedings.
Three boundary-less overs followed, including the introduction of spin in the form of Sikandar Raza. Nyamhuri should then have had Connolly, on 41, caught at midwicket but Bennett spilled the chance. Connolly got a second life when he was caught behind off a Raza no-ball and rubbed salt into that wound when he sent Raza’s free hit sailing over long-off to bring up his fifty. However, Connolly’s fun ended two balls later when Raza beat his outside edge and bowled him to leave Australia wobbling on 107 for 4.
But Raza’s problems with over-stepping continued, and continued to cost Zimbabwe. He produced another opportunity when Renshaw, on 12, sent a low full-toss to midwicket where Craig Ervine dropped it. Australia were 147 for 4 at the halfway stage, with the scoring rate pulled back to under six runs an over and the innings was delicately placed. Raza, Bennett and Wellington Masakadza showed good control for the most part but occasionally tossed it up too much and Renshaw cased in. His first six came off Bennett, as he got down on one knee to send him over midwicket; the next was off Masakadza and landed on the stadium roof.