The Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 delivered three entertaining One Day Internationals between September 15 and September 20, with all matches played at the historic Harare Sports Club.
Australia ultimately completed a 3-0 clean sweep, but the final scoreline does not tell the complete story.
Zimbabwe challenged the visitors in several phases of the series, produced impressive individual performances and came within one wicket of winning the dramatic final ODI.
Australia won the opening match by 59 runs, followed it with an 84-run victory in the second ODI and then survived a thrilling final match by just one wicket with one ball remaining.
The series was also significant because it marked Australia’s first ODI visit to Zimbabwe in more than a decade, with their previous ODI appearance in the country coming during the 2014 triangular series.
Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 |
| Teams | Zimbabwe vs Australia |
| Format | ODI |
| Matches | 3 |
| Start Date | September 15, 2026 |
| End Date | September 20, 2026 |
| Venue | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| Australia Captain | Mitchell Marsh |
| Zimbabwe Captain | Sikandar Raza |
| Series Result | Australia won 3-0 |
| Player of the Series | Cooper Connolly |
All three matches began at 9:30 AM local time in Harare, equivalent to approximately 1:00 PM IST for viewers in India.
Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 Schedule & Results
| Match | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 15, 2026 | Harare Sports Club | Australia won by 59 runs |
| 2nd ODI | September 18, 2026 | Harare Sports Club | Australia won by 84 runs |
| 3rd ODI | September 20, 2026 | Harare Sports Club | Australia won by 1 wicket |
Australia therefore completed a 3-0 series sweep, although Zimbabwe pushed the visitors particularly hard in the final encounter.
Zimbabwe vs Australia 1st ODI 2026
Date: September 15, 2026
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Result: Australia won by 59 runs
Score
Australia – 294/8
Zimbabwe – 235 all out in 45.1 overs
The tour began with an excellent performance from Matthew Renshaw, who rescued Australia after their top order encountered early trouble.
Renshaw scored a superb:
109 from 94 balls
It was his maiden ODI century and his first international hundred in almost a decade. Cooper Connolly also contributed 51, helping Australia recover and reach 294/8.
Zimbabwe fast bowler Newman Nyamhuri produced one of the best bowling performances of the match, claiming a maiden international five-wicket haul.
He finished with five wickets, becoming only the second Zimbabwe bowler to take an ODI five-for against Australia.
Nathan Ellis Takes Five Wickets
Australia’s standout bowler was Nathan Ellis.
The seamer produced outstanding figures of:
5/31
Zimbabwe briefly threatened through a 98-run partnership between Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza.
Ervine scored 59 while Raza made 57, but Ellis broke through and Australia eventually dismissed Zimbabwe for 235.
1st ODI Result
Australia won by 59 runs
The victory gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Zimbabwe vs Australia 2nd ODI 2026
Date: September 18, 2026
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Result: Australia won by 84 runs
The second match produced Australia’s biggest batting total of the series.
Score
Australia – 356/6
Zimbabwe – 272
Australia’s innings was dominated by Travis Head, who returned to form spectacularly.
Head smashed:
112 runs from 84 balls
He reached his half-century from 32 deliveries and his hundred from 75 balls.
Captain Mitchell Marsh supported him with 53, and the pair shared a 130-run opening partnership.
Cooper Connolly continued his excellent form with 78 from 69 balls, while Ollie Peake added a rapid 41 from only 18 deliveries.
Australia eventually reached 356/6, their largest ODI total against Zimbabwe at the time.
Zimbabwe’s Chase
Zimbabwe had several batters make starts.
Brendan Taylor scored 39, Craig Ervine made 38 and captain Sikandar Raza contributed 45.
However, the required rate continued to increase as Australia’s bowlers maintained control.
Australia secured an 84-run victory, giving them an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Adam Zampa Reaches 200 ODI Wickets
The second ODI also produced an important career milestone for Australian spinner Adam Zampa.
Zampa became only the second Australian spinner to reach 200 wickets in men’s ODI cricket when he dismissed Innocent Kaia with a googly.
The achievement reinforced Zampa’s status as one of Australia’s most important white-ball bowlers.
Billy Stanlake Injury
Australia’s second ODI victory was overshadowed by an injury to fast bowler Billy Stanlake.
Stanlake suffered a side problem during his fifth over and had to leave the field.
The fast bowler had only recently returned to international cricket after a lengthy absence.
Zimbabwe vs Australia 3rd ODI 2026
Date: September 20, 2026
Venue: Harare Sports Club
Result: Australia won by 1 wicket
The final ODI produced the most dramatic contest of the tour.
Zimbabwe – 271/8
Zimbabwe batted first and produced their best all-round batting performance of the series.
Captain Sikandar Raza led from the front with an unbeaten:
81 from 72 balls
Craig Ervine scored 59 from 79 balls, while Innocent Kaia added 55 from 66 deliveries.
Zimbabwe finished on:
271/8 in 50 overs.
Nathan Ellis was again Australia’s most effective bowler, taking 3/50, while Spencer Johnson picked up 2/50.
Josh Inglis Scores Match-Winning Century
Australia’s chase became difficult after the visitors lost early wickets.
Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis then produced one of the defining innings of the series.
Inglis scored:
103 runs from 102 balls
His century kept Australia on course for victory and provided the foundation for the chase.
However, after Inglis was dismissed, Australia still required 45 runs with only two wickets remaining.
Zimbabwe suddenly appeared close to securing a consolation victory.
Nathan Ellis Pulls Off Final-Over Escape
Australia eventually slipped to 246/9.
Nathan Ellis and last batter Spencer Johnson were left needing to complete an unlikely chase.
Ellis responded with an outstanding lower-order innings.
He finished unbeaten on:
36 from 44 balls
while Spencer Johnson contributed an unbeaten seven.
With Australia needing nine runs from the final over, Ellis struck a six from the first delivery.
The visitors eventually reached:
272/9 in 49.5 overs
to win by one wicket with one ball remaining.
It completed Australia’s 3-0 clean sweep, but Zimbabwe had come agonisingly close to victory.
Player of the Match
Josh Inglis – 103 from 102 balls
Cooper Connolly Named Player of the Series
Young Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly was named Player of the Series.
Connolly finished with:
150 runs and three wickets
across the three ODIs.
His performances strengthened his case for a long-term place in Australia’s ODI setup ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
Connolly scored 51 in the opening ODI before producing 78 in the second match.
Leading Run-Scorers in Australia vs Zimbabwe 2026
Interestingly, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza finished as the leading run-scorer across the series despite Australia’s 3-0 victory.
| Player | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 183 |
| Craig Ervine | Zimbabwe | 156 |
| Cooper Connolly | Australia | 150 |
| Josh Inglis | Australia | 128 |
| Matthew Renshaw | Australia | 128 |
| Travis Head | Australia | 122 |
| Innocent Kaia | Zimbabwe | 107 |
| Mitchell Marsh | Australia | 97 |
Cricket Australia’s official series statistics list Raza first with 183 runs, followed by Ervine with 156 and Connolly with 150.
Matthew Renshaw’s Maiden ODI Hundred
One of Australia’s biggest positives from the tour was Matthew Renshaw.
Traditionally associated more closely with red-ball cricket, Renshaw demonstrated his white-ball potential with his maiden ODI century in the series opener.
His 109 from 94 balls came after Australia had lost four wickets relatively early.
The innings was especially significant because it was Renshaw’s first international century since his Test hundred against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017.
Travis Head Returns to Form
Travis Head entered the second ODI after a disappointing run of dismissals.
He responded emphatically.
His 112 from 84 balls featured 15 boundaries and provided Australia with the attacking platform needed to reach 356/6.
With the 2027 World Cup approaching, Head’s aggressive style at the top of the order remains a major part of Australia’s ODI strategy.
Sikandar Raza Leads Zimbabwe’s Resistance
Although Zimbabwe lost the series 3-0, Sikandar Raza had an excellent individual campaign.
He finished as the series’ leading run-scorer with 183 runs.
His best performance arrived in the final match when he made an unbeaten 81.
Raza also captained Zimbabwe because regular ODI captain Richard Ngarava was unavailable with a lower-back injury.
Brendan Taylor Creates ODI History
Veteran Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Brendan Taylor achieved a remarkable milestone during the opening match.
Taylor became the longest-serving player in men’s ODI history, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record for the longest ODI career span.
Taylor’s ODI career stretched beyond 22 years and four months, having made his debut in 2004.
His return also provided Zimbabwe with valuable experience ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Zimbabwe Squad for Australia ODI Series 2026
Sikandar Raza (Captain), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza and Wessly Madhevere.
Zimbabwe were without regular captain Richard Ngarava because of a lower-back injury. Tanaka Chivanga was also unavailable due to an Achilles injury, while Clive Madande missed the series.
The squad also featured the returns of experienced players Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer.
Cremer returned to Zimbabwe’s ODI setup after an absence of around eight years.
Australia Squad for Zimbabwe Tour 2026
Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake and Adam Zampa.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were selected for Australia’s subsequent South Africa leg rather than the Zimbabwe ODI series.
Mitchell Marsh returned as captain, while Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood were among the experienced players rejoining the ODI group.
Mitchell Marsh Plays 100th ODI
The first match also marked an important milestone for Australian captain Mitchell Marsh.
Marsh entered the tour on 99 ODI appearances and played his 100th men’s ODI in the series opener.
He was also the only member of Australia’s 2026 squad who had been part of their previous ODI visit to Zimbabwe in 2014.
Harare Sports Club – Series Venue
All three matches were played at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.
Rather than moving between venues, both teams remained in the Zimbabwean capital throughout the short six-day series.
The schedule was:
September 15 – 1st ODI
September 18 – 2nd ODI
September 20 – 3rd ODI
Every match began at 9:30 AM local time.
Harare Sports Club is one of Zimbabwe’s principal international cricket venues and will be an important location when the country co-hosts the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
Why the Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 Was Important
The series formed an important part of preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
That tournament will be staged across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, making experience in southern African conditions particularly valuable for Australia.
For Zimbabwe, playing a full-strength international opponent at home provided important preparation ahead of co-hosting the tournament.
Australia also used the series to assess players competing for World Cup positions.
The performances of Cooper Connolly, Matthew Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Nathan Ellis and Ollie Peake therefore carried significance beyond the immediate series result.
Australia Complete 3-0 Series Sweep
Australia’s results across the three matches were:
1st ODI: Australia won by 59 runs
2nd ODI: Australia won by 84 runs
3rd ODI: Australia won by 1 wicket
The third match showed how competitive Zimbabwe could be despite the final 3-0 scoreline.
Australia needed a century from Josh Inglis and an exceptional lower-order performance from Nathan Ellis to avoid defeat.
Inglis later said the experience of winning such a tight game provided useful lessons as Australia prepare for the 2027 World Cup.
Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 FAQs
Who won the Australia vs Zimbabwe ODI Series 2026?
Australia won the three-match series 3-0. They won the opening ODI by 59 runs, the second by 84 runs and the final match by one wicket.
When was the Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026?
The series was played from September 15 to September 20, 2026.
How many matches were played?
Zimbabwe and Australia played three One Day Internationals.
Was there a T20I or Test series?
No. The September 2026 tour consisted of three ODIs only.
Where were the matches played?
All three games were staged at Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Who captained Australia?
Mitchell Marsh captained Australia.
Who captained Zimbabwe?
Sikandar Raza led Zimbabwe because Richard Ngarava was unavailable through injury.
Who was Player of the Series?
Cooper Connolly received the Player of the Series award after scoring 150 runs and taking three wickets.
Who scored the most runs in the series?
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza was the leading run-scorer with 183 runs.
Who scored centuries during the series?
Matthew Renshaw scored 109 in the first ODI, Travis Head hit 112 in the second, and Josh Inglis made 103 in the final match.
What happened in the third ODI?
Zimbabwe scored 271/8, led by Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 81. Australia reached 272/9 in 49.5 overs, winning by one wicket after Josh Inglis scored 103 and Nathan Ellis finished unbeaten on 36.
Final Words
The Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 may have ended in a 3-0 series victory for the visitors, but it produced plenty of competitive cricket.
Matthew Renshaw started the tour with his maiden ODI century, Travis Head dominated the second game with 112 and Josh Inglis produced a match-winning hundred in the dramatic series finale.
Young all-rounder Cooper Connolly finished as Player of the Series with 150 runs and three wickets, while Nathan Ellis consistently made an impact with both ball and, in the final ODI, the bat.
Zimbabwe also had significant positives.
Sikandar Raza finished as the leading run-scorer with 183 runs, Craig Ervine accumulated 156, Newman Nyamhuri claimed a memorable five-wicket haul and Brendan Taylor created history as the longest-serving men’s ODI player.
The final match demonstrated the competitiveness of the hosts better than the 3-0 result suggests, with Australia needing to reach 272/9 with only one ball remaining to escape with victory.
