Australia produced another strong all-round display to beat Zimbabwe in the second ODI at Harare Sports Club on Friday, September 18. The visitors were asked to bat first after Sikandar Raza won the toss and built a huge total of 356/6 before restricting the hosts to 272 in 48.3 overs. The result gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
While the batting performance provided the platform for another convincing win, the match also became a significant one for one of Australia’s leading white-ball bowlers. Adam Zampa reached an important career landmark during Zimbabwe’s chase, adding another notable achievement to his ODI record.
Adam Zampa enters elite company with latest achievement
Zampa became only the second Australian spinner in history to take 200 ODI wickets, joining the legendary Shane Warne in an exclusive group. He reached the landmark when he dismissed Innocent Kaia with a googly that beat the batter in flight and struck the leg stump. Zampa later removed Craig Ervine to finish with figures of 2/62 from nine overs.
The achievement also made Zampa only the seventh Australian bowler overall to reach 200 ODI wickets. He now has 201 wickets from 123 matches at an average of 29.48, with 12 four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. Warne remains Australia’s leading ODI spinner with 291 wickets from 193 matches, while Glenn McGrath tops the country’s overall list with 380 wickets.
Zampa’s milestone was particularly notable given the traditional dominance of fast bowlers in Australian ODI cricket. He also became the fastest Australian spinner to the mark, reaching it in 123 matches, three games quicker than Warne, who needed 125 ODIs.
Also READ: Travis Head’s century powers Australia to series-clinching win over Zimbabwe in 2nd ODI
Travis Head leads Australia to another convincing victory
Australia’s total was built around a brilliant 112 from Travis Head, who returned to form with his eighth ODI century. The left-hander struck 15 fours and three sixes from 84 balls and shared a 130-run opening stand with captain Mitchell Marsh, who contributed 53 from 63 deliveries. Cooper Connolly continued the momentum with 78 from 69 balls before Oliver Peake provided a late burst with an unbeaten 41 from just 18 deliveries. Peake’s late hitting helped Australia finish on 356/6, their highest ODI total against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe struggled to maintain the required scoring rate in the chase despite several starts from their top order. Raza top-scored with 45, while Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine made 39 and 38 respectively, but Australia kept taking wickets at regular intervals and bowled the hosts out for 272. Josh Hazlewood, Connolly and Matthew Renshaw also claimed two wickets each as Australia completed an 84-run victory and sealed the series with one match still to play.
Adam Zampa becomes the 7th Australian bowler to take 200 wickets in ODIs 👏#ZIMvAUS #AdamZampa pic.twitter.com/nvdOS3p1Gr
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 19, 2026
Also READ: ZIM vs AUS: Brendan Taylor breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s world record in Harare ODI
