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Zimbabwe and Australia will lock horns in the third and final ODI of the series at Harare Sports Club on Sunday, September 20. Australia have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning the first two matches by 59 and 84 runs respectively. However, the hosts will be determined to finish the series with a victory on home soil.
The first two games have produced several intriguing individual contests. Matt Renshaw smashed his maiden ODI century in the opening game, while Travis Head returned to form with a magnificent 112 in the second ODI. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have seen important contributions from Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine and their young left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri.
With one final game remaining, here are three player battles that could have a significant impact on the series finale.
The contest between Travis Head and Newman Nyamhuri could be one of the most exciting battles of the match.
Head produced a spectacular performance in the second ODI, smashing 112 off just 84 balls. His innings included 15 fours and three sixes and helped Australia post 356/6 in their 50 overs. The left-hander also shared a 130-run opening partnership with Mitchell Marsh, putting Zimbabwe’s bowlers under pressure from the beginning.
Nyamhuri, however, has already demonstrated that he can trouble Australia’s aggressive batters. The 20-year-old claimed a five-wicket haul in the first ODI, finishing with 5/62 and becoming only the second Zimbabwean bowler to take five wickets in an ODI against Australia.
The left-arm seamer will therefore be keen to find an early breakthrough against Head. His ability to attack the stumps and extract movement could test Head’s aggressive approach, while the Australian opener will look to put pressure on the youngster by taking advantage of any width.
If Head survives the initial spell, he could once again become a major threat to Zimbabwe. For the hosts, dismissing him early could be crucial.
Sikandar Raza’s battle against Adam Zampa could become particularly important during the middle overs.
Raza has been one of Zimbabwe’s most reliable performers in the series. He scored 57 in the first ODI during a 98-run partnership with Craig Ervine before making 45 in the second match. His ability to bat through difficult periods makes him an important figure in Zimbabwe’s middle order.
Zampa, meanwhile, remains Australia’s principal spin option. The leg-spinner entered the series needing just two wickets to reach 200 ODI wickets for Australia, a milestone that could add another layer of interest to his performance in Harare.
Raza is comfortable playing spin and can attack when bowlers drop short or overpitch. Zampa will look to use his variations in pace and trajectory to make scoring difficult and force the Zimbabwe captain into an attacking mistake.
The contest could become especially important if Zimbabwe’s top order provides Raza with a platform. Australia will want Zampa to control the middle overs, while Raza will be tasked with ensuring Zimbabwe maintain momentum.
Matt Renshaw and Blessing Muzarabani could produce another fascinating contest between Australia’s batting and Zimbabwe’s pace attack.
Renshaw has been one of the standout performers of the series. He scored 109 in the opening ODI, his maiden century in international cricket, and followed it up with another useful contribution in the second game. His century came from 94 deliveries and helped Australia recover from a difficult phase before accelerating towards 294/8.
Muzarabani, meanwhile, is Zimbabwe’s most experienced frontline fast bowler in the current squad. The tall seamer can generate bounce from a good length and has the pace to trouble Australia’s middle order.
Renshaw’s left-handed batting style makes the matchup particularly interesting. Muzarabani will look to exploit his height and angle by attacking the stumps and bowling hard lengths, while Renshaw will aim to use his strong strokeplay to keep the bowler from settling.
With Renshaw already enjoying a productive series, Zimbabwe will be keen to prevent him from producing another substantial score in the final ODI.
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