They might have lost the series, but Zimbabwe are celebrating a slice of history after beating Australia for the first time Down Under.

Ryan Burl (5-10) set-up the win by helping the visitors bowl out Australia for 141, before captain Regis Chakabva saw the African nation home by scoring an unbeaten 37 to secure a three-wicket win.

Brad Evans, who earlier took two wickets, hit the winning runs as he drove Mitchell Starc through the covers to hit the most important run in his career.

The win is a huge moment in international cricket, with the Zimbabweans celebrating their first win against Australia since 2014 and just the third in their history over the cricket powerhouse.

“They chased with intent,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.

“They were proactive from the outset and their captain Regis Chakabva, what an innings from him to ice the game.”

Josh Hazlewood (3-30) had given the home side hope of pulling off a dramatic victory as he took three earlier wickets, including his 100th in ODI, but Chakabva’s (37* off 72) resilience and patient knock denied the quick from rolling through their middle order as he led them home after the visitors had slumped to 5-77.

The victory was not without some late drama, with Aaron Finch’s side burning their reviews — a factor that looked to prove costly when Burl (11 off 17) survived a huge appeal for caught-behind off Mitchell Starc. But without a review up their sleeves, the left-hander survived despite a clear spike on hot spot and snicko.

Burl fell moments later as Starc took his 200th ODI wicket, but the blown chance summed up Finch’s miserable day.

The Australian captain fell for five as Australia was bowled out for 141 off 31 overs.

Finch, 35, later dropped Chakabva at first-slip when the right-hander slashed at a shorter ball from Adam Zampa.

Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar fell to soft dismissals, while the technique and lack of form from Aaron Finch was exposed.

Opener David Warner played a lone hand for the home side, scoring 94 before he was caught in the deep off Burl.

Former wicket-keeper batter Brad Haddin slammed the decision making from the Australian batting line-up.

“I think for Australia, it is decision making with the batting (that cost them),” he said.

“If you have a look there, David Warner was the only one that really got going. Maxwell showed glimmers of what he’s all about, but the decision making with our batting was a problem.”

Source: foxsports.com

BDST: 1336 HRS, SEP 03, 2022
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