ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026: Match Summary.
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare.
Date: September 18, 2026.
Toss: Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl.
Australia: 356/6 in 50 overs.
Zimbabwe: 272 all out in 48.3 overs.
Result: Australia won by 84 runs.
Player of the Match: Travis Head – 112 off 84 balls.
Series: Australia lead 2–0.
ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026, Australia performed well once again and beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs. Travis Head scored a superb 112 off 84 balls. Cooper Connolly and Mitchell Marsh also contributed with the bat. This match played at Harare Sports Club on September 18 ensured a 2–0 lead for Australia in a three-match ODI series. Zimbabwe won the toss. Opted to bowl first.. In response to Zimbabwe, Australia scored a huge 356 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs. Zimbabwe put up a tough fight in their chase but were eventually bowled out for 272 runs in 48.3 overs.
ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026: Zimbabwe Winning the Toss
Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwe captain, won the toss in ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026 and opted to field first. This meant that the bowlers had a chance to target the opening batsmen of Australia. However, the strategy backfired instantly as Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh formed a successful opening partnership. Head batted aggressively right from the very beginning hitting boundaries quite easily and putting pressure on the opposition attack. On the other hand, Mitchell Marsh supported his team by forming a platform for Australia during the first half of the innings. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh scored 130 runs for the opening wicket before Wellington Masakadza dismissed Marsh for 53 off 63 balls. Marsh made three fours and three sixes in his innings.
Australia Batting — 356/6 (50 overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | 53 | 63 | 3 | 3 |
| Travis Head | 112 | 84 | 15 | 3 |
| Cooper Connolly | 78 | 69 | 3 | 3 |
| Josh Inglis | 21 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Alex Carey | 20 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Matt Renshaw | 15 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Ollie Peake* | 41 | 18 | 2 | 3 |
| Nathan Ellis* | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 10 | |||
| Total | 356/6 | 50 overs |
Zimbabwe Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessing Muzarabani | 9 | 0 | 68 | 0 |
| Brad Evans | 9 | 0 | 86 | 3 |
| Newman Nyamhuri | 5 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Sikandar Raza | 10 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 9 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
| Wesley Madhevere | 8 | 0 | 52 | 1 |
Travis Head Strikes a Stunning Hundred
The highlight of the ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026 was undoubtedly the century by Travis Head. Head scored his fifty off 32 balls before accelerating even further. He went on to score his century off 75 balls and eventually scored 112 off 84 balls. His innings comprised of 15 fours and three sixes. The aggression shown by Head in his batting kept Zimbabwe under pressure. He was eventually dismissed for 112 when he played a shot and was caught giving Wessly Madhevere his wicket. It was Head’s ODI century and his first international hundred since Ashes.
Connolly and Peake Provide Boost
Australia didnt let up after dismissal of Head. Cooper Connolly carried on the batting. Added crucial 78 runs from 69 balls scoring 3 fours and 3 sixes. It was particularly significant for Australias innings that Connolly scored well despite departure of Head. He was ultimately dismissed by Brad Evans. Mitchell Marsh had already scored 53 runs whereas Josh Inglis made 21 runs and Alex Carey contributed 20 runs. Matt Renshaw made 15 runs before Brad Evans dismissed him. Most significant contributions came from Oliver Peake who batted very well. The young batsman slammed unbeaten 41 runs from 18 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes. With such an exciting end Australia finished their 50 overs innings with 356/6. Brad Evans was most effective bowler for Zimbabwe with 3 wickets at a cost of 86 runs. Wellington Masakadza took 2 wickets conceding 51 runs whereas Wessly Madhevere took a single wicket.
Zimbabwe Batting — 272 all out (48.3 overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 23 | 34 | 3 | 0 |
| Ben Curran | 30 | 46 | 4 | 0 |
| Innocent Kaia | 34 | 47 | 3 | 0 |
| Brendan Taylor | 39 | 40 | 3 | 0 |
| Craig Ervine | 38 | 39 | 3 | 0 |
| Sikandar Raza | 45 | 49 | 5 | 0 |
| Brad Evans | 12 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Wesley Madhevere | 26 | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Newman Nyamhuri | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wellington Masakadza* | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | 13 | |||
| Total | 272 all out | 48.3 overs |
Australia Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | 9 | 2 | 48 | 2 |
| Billy Stanlake | 4.2 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Nathan Ellis | 6 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| Cooper Connolly | 6.1 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Matt Renshaw | 7 | 0 | 44 | 2 |
| Ollie Peake | 5 | 0 | 29 | 1 |
| Travis Head | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Adam Zampa | 9 | 0 | 62 | 2 |
Start to Zimbabwes Chase
Zimbabwe were chasing 357 runs against Australias experienced bowling side. Brian Bennett and Ben Curran formed the opening partnership but both batters got out without allowing Zimbabwe to build a solid platform. Bennett made 23 runs whereas Curran scored 30 runs. Innocent Kaia made 34 runs. Adam Zampa bowled him with a delivery which turned sharply. Brendan Taylor batted well making 39 runs from 40 balls whereas Craig Ervine scored 38 runs. Middle order of Zimbabwes innings failed to keep the scoring rate going.
Raza Leads the Fightback
The highest scorer for Zimbabwe was Sikandar Raza, who scored 45 runs in 49 balls with 5 fours.Raza played hard to keep the run rate high, but even he could not stop the Australian bowlers from dismissing the Zimbabwe batters at crucial junctures.Brady Evans made 12 runs quickly, while Wessly Madhevere added a spark to the innings with his brilliant innings of 26 runs in just 13 balls.Madhevere hit 4 fours in quick succession and attacked the Australian bowlers aggressively. But Madhevere getting out for 26 runs brought the end of the inning as Australia managed to dismiss Zimbabwe for 272 runs in 48.3 overs.
Australia’s Bowlers Wrap up the Inning
The Australian bowling attack operated collectively rather than depending on a single bowler.Josh Hazlewood picked up 2 for 48 from nine overs.Adam Zampa contributed with 2 for 62 runs, while Matt Renshaw accounted for 2 for 44.Cooper Connolly did not disappoint either with the ball by picking up 2 for 25 from 6.1 overs.Nathan Ellis and Oliver Peake took one wicket each, while Travis Head took 2 overs and conceded only 10 runs.
Player of the Match: Travis Head
There was no doubt about the Player of the Match.Travis Head’s 112 runs were the mainstay of Australia’s huge score, which was crucial to clinch the win.Travis Head had a magnificent century and scored aggressively at an important stage for Australia after getting back into form.The opening partnership between Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh was perfect for Australia and helped the visitors score at a very fast pace.Head ended the match with 112 runs and also bowled 2 overs for 10 runs.
ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026: Australia Seal the Series
The ZIM vs AUS 2nd ODI 2026 ended with Australia winning by 84 runs. Australia’s 356 for 6 proved too much for Zimbabwe, who finished on 272 all out. The result gave Australia a 2–0 lead in the three-match series, meaning the visitors had already secured the series with one match still remaining. For Zimbabwe, the match showed some positive signs with Raza, Taylor, Ervine and Madhevere contributing with the bat, but their inability to build a sustained chase against Australia’s bowling attack ultimately cost them the game. For Australia, Head’s century, Marsh’s half-century, Connolly’s all-round contribution and a disciplined bowling performance combined to produce a comprehensive victory. The third ODI now gives Zimbabwe an opportunity to finish the series strongly, while Australia will look to complete a clean sweep in Harare.
