On Saturday, Zimbabwe defeated Australia in the third and final one-day international by a score of three wickets, and Ryan Burl was the star of the show.
A virtually full-strength Australia side was defeated by Zimbabwe in the third one-day international that took place in Townsville on Saturday. Zimbabwe won the match by three wickets to claim a historic triumph. Zimbabwe overcame a wobbly chase to beat the cricket powerhouse for the first time in Australia when they hauled in the target in the 39th over, triggering scenes of celebration. This victory came after leg-spinner Ryan Burl (5-10) played a starring role in dismissing the hosts for a lowly 141. After Ryan Burl’s stellar performance, the hosts were dismissed for a score of only 141.
The final match of the three-game series was a triumph for Zimbabwe, but it was only a consolation victory.
“We showed a whole lot of fight… it was a credit to the work the players put in,” said Zimbabwe captain Regis Chakabva, who led the team in scoring with a composed 37 not out. Chakabva also led the team in not being out.
The tourists got off to a strong start in their pursuit of the target by compiling a 38-run opening stand, which was led by Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Tadiwanashe Marumani.
But Australia quick Kaitano (19), who was batting for Australia, was out after Josh Hazlewood took his wicket in the ninth over. Shortly after that, Hazlewood removed Wessly Madhevere and Sean Williams on successive deliveries, which flipped the match on its head.
After the wicket of Murumani (35), who was bowled by the tall all-rounder Cameron Green, a jittery Zimbabwe, who were looking for just their third victory against Australia in 32 ODIs, batted carefully and slipped to 77-5.
Chakabva helped to soothe the nerves of the Zimbabwean team, and he was joined by an inspired Burl, who smashed a six off of the player-of-the-series Adam Zampa to bring Zimbabwe closer to achieving a famous triumph.
He was eliminated with five runs still needed, but there was no unexpected turn of events.
“Unceasingly relentless with the ball”
Aaron Finch, the captain of the Australian team, stated that “you turn up to international sport and you may get thrashed on any day,” and that is exactly what happened today.
“From the beginning, they were quite aggressive with the ball.”
In Zimbabwe’s first series in Australia since 2004, they struggled to stay competitive in the first two matches at the same venue and were completely dominated for just 96 runs on Wednesday. This was their first series in Australia since 2004.
The fact that Chakabva won the toss for the first time in the series was a confidence booster for him, as his accurate attack took frequent wickets against Australia’s batting order that was struggling to score runs.
In an innings that lasted only 31 overs, Australia’s only had two batters reach double digits, with star opener David Warner scoring 94 runs as the only other batsman to contribute.
After Australia’s top order was decimated by Zimbabwe’s probing seamers, an inspired Burl took five wickets in a whirlwind 18 balls, starting with the key scalp of Glenn Maxwell, who helped rebuild the innings by putting together a fifty-run partnership with Warner. Burl’s impressive performance came after Zimbabwe’s probing seamers had already ripped through Australia’s top order.
The dangerous Maxwell was run out for 19 in the 27th over, and Burl got on a roll in his career-best performance, including the dismissal of Warner, who came up just short of reaching his 19th one-day international century.
The eventual victory fueled Zimbabwe’s bid to climb the ODI Super League ladder, which contributes towards qualification for the 50-over World Cup that will be held in India next year. This was the first time in ODIs that Zimbabwe had bowled out Australia.
