Australia completes 3-0 sweep with one-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Harare

Australia beat Zimbabwe by one wicket in the third ODI at Harare on September 20, 2026, reaching 272-9 with one ball to spare to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Josh Inglis scored 103 off 102 balls — his second ODI century — but it was Nathan Ellis's unbeaten 36 off 44 that steered Australia home in the run chase after Zimbabwe posted 271-8 batting first.

The match turned when Inglis was clean bowled by captain Sikandar Raza in the 42nd over, leaving Australia 45 runs short, and Brad Evans (4-47 in 10 overs) reduced the tourists to 245-9 by dismissing Adam Zampa in the 46th over; Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said, “Great game of cricket. I thought Zimbabwe probably deserved to win, but the boys got the job done at the end there, and that was fantastic to see.”

No. 9 batter Ellis and last man Spencer Johnson (7 not out) put together the final partnership, with a dropped chance by Wessly Madhevere in the penultimate over proving costly for Zimbabwe; with nine needed off the final over Ellis launched the first ball for six and then secured the winning run by chipping the spinner over midwicket for a single off the fifth ball.

Australia had been under pressure earlier as Brad Evans removed Mitchell Marsh (8) and Travis Head (6) in his opening two overs and Cooper Connolly (21) fell to a Graeme Cremer leg break in the 13th over; Inglis and Alex Carey (34) then combined for an 85-run stand, using sweeps and reverse sweeps to counter the spinners until Evans returned to dismiss Carey for the third time in the series, a catch held at point described in the report as a blinder by Madhevere.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza top-scored with an unbeaten 81 as his decision to bat first — the first time he elected to do so in the series — helped the hosts reach 148-2 in the 29th over; Innocent Kaia made 55 before retiring hurt with a hamstring issue and Craig Ervine scored 59, with Raza and Ervine taking the total to 206-3 by the 40th over.

Australia’s bowlers curtailed Zimbabwe late on, conceding only 65 runs off the final 60 balls through Nathan Ellis (3-50) and Spencer Johnson (2-50), while Australia had earlier claimed opening victories by 59 runs and 84 runs to complete the clean sweep.