Matt Renshaw’s Maiden ODI Century Guides Australia to 294 Against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe vs Australia 1st ODI, Shortest Match Reports Matt Renshaw remained calm on his way to a maiden ODI ton as Australia scored 294 for 8 against Zimbabwe in the first of three ODIs in Harare on September 15 [Stats] The tourists were reduced to 67/3 at one stage but cranked their innings into gear thanks to the southpaw’s 109, whilst Zimbabwe fell short of the total thanks largely due to young left-arm quick Newman Nyamhuri’s maiden five-for – thus denying Australia a total in excess of 300.

Renshaw turned things around for the innings after Australia slumped to 107 for 4 in the 18th over. The opener forged vital partnerships with the likes of Alex Carey and Ollie Peake, scoring 72 and 75 respectively. In his innings, excellent running between the wickets was the bedrock of his innings as he clicked 49 singles and seven twos to keep the scoreboard moving without needing to hit boundaries all the time.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers struck early on a green pitch. Travis Head was bowled, chopping the ball onto his stumps off Brad Evans, and it the latest example of bad luck for Australian batter. Nyamhuri then sent Mitchell Marsh packing when he hit straight to Brian Bennett at cover.

Former Zimbabwe international Nyamhuri subsequently dismissed Josh Inglis, with Brendan Taylor taking a spectacular one-handed catch. The young seamer kept giving Australia the blues and eventually ended up with 5 for 62.

Renshaw found valuable support in Cooper Connolly, who bundled he and then finally Raza for 51. Connolly had earlier been dropped on six and survived a caught-behind dismissal off an apparent Raza no-ball, which would have dismissed him without any runs to his name only twenty minutes before reaching his half-century.

Renshaw had a fortuitous break when Craig Ervine put him down at midwicket with the score on 12. And he punished Zimbabwe for this error, hammering several meaty sixes and advancing quietly toward his milestone.

Renshaw had taken his fifty from 55 balls but really opened up towards the end of the innings. He hammered his second fifty off just 33 balls, and then he slashed Evans for a single to bring up the century.

Renshaw fell for 109 at the close as he tapped one to Tadiwanashe Marumani off Nyamhuri, who finished with five. In particular, Australia made a further 66 runs over the last ten overs at the expense of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, Australia ending up on 294 for 8 in their first ODI of the series.