Table of Contents
Top Headlines
- Australia vs Zimbabwe 2nd ODI: Australia face Zimbabwe today, September 18, at Harare Sports Club in the second match of the three-game ODI series.
- Australia lead 1-0: Australia won the opening ODI by 59 runs after scoring 294/8 and dismissing Zimbabwe for 235.
- Matt Renshaw century: Renshaw scored his maiden ODI hundred, making 109 from 94 balls in the first match.
- Nathan Ellis stars: Ellis claimed his first international five-wicket haul, finishing with 5/31.
- Zimbabwe fight back: Zimbabwe’s Newman Nyamhuri took 5/62 in the first ODI, becoming only the second Zimbabwean bowler to take five wickets against Australia in an ODI.
- Hazlewood return possible: Josh Hazlewood could return to Australia’s XI for the second ODI as the visitors continue managing their squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
- World Cup preparation: The three-match series is an important part of preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which Zimbabwe will co-host.
- Third ODI: The final match of the series is scheduled for September 20 at Harare Sports Club.
Australia National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe
The Australia national cricket team vs Zimbabwe series continues today, September 18, 2026, with the second ODI at Harare Sports Club. Australia enter the match with a 1-0 series advantage after a convincing victory in the opening game, while Zimbabwe will be looking to level the three-match series on home soil.
The series is Australia’s first ODI tour of Zimbabwe in more than a decade and forms part of preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. All three matches are being played at Harare Sports Club on September 15, 18 and 20.
Australia Won the First ODI by 59 Runs
Australia made a strong start to the series on September 15. After being asked to bat first, Mitchell Marsh’s team posted 294/8 in 50 overs.
Matt Renshaw was the standout performer with a brilliant 109, his first ODI century. He formed important partnerships with Alex Carey and Ollie Peake, helping Australia recover from a difficult middle phase and post a competitive total.
Zimbabwe’s young fast bowler Newman Nyamhuri was one of the positives for the home side. The 20-year-old left-arm pacer finished with 5/62 and became only the second Zimbabwean bowler to claim an ODI five-wicket haul against Australia.
Zimbabwe’s Chase Falls Short
Zimbabwe started their chase with a target of 295 but were eventually bowled out for 235 in 45.1 overs. Craig Ervine scored 59 and captain Sikandar Raza made 57, with the pair adding a 98-run partnership that briefly gave Zimbabwe hope.
Australia’s bowling attack regained control when Nathan Ellis returned for his second spell. Ellis removed Ervine and then took further wickets as Zimbabwe’s lower order collapsed. He finished with 5/31 from 9.1 overs, while Spencer Johnson also dismissed Raza for 57.
Australia Team News for 2nd ODI
Australia’s squad includes captain Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson, with additional options including Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, Joel Davies and Billy Stanlake.
Hazlewood could return for the second ODI after being managed for the opening match. The team is also using the Zimbabwe tour to examine player combinations ahead of the next major ODI cycle.
Zimbabwe Team News
Zimbabwe are led by Sikandar Raza, who contributed with both bat and leadership in the opening match. The squad also includes Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Wessly Madhevere and Ryan Burl.
Zimbabwe will need another strong bowling performance from Nyamhuri while seeking greater consistency from its batting order. The home side showed during the first ODI that it can compete for long periods, but Australia ultimately maintained the required scoring rate and controlled the closing stages.
2nd ODI Date, Time and Venue
The Zimbabwe vs Australia second ODI is being played on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Harare Sports Club in Harare.
The scheduled start time is 9:30 AM local time in Zimbabwe, which corresponds to 1:00 PM IST and 5:30 PM AEST.
For viewers in India, reports indicate that the series does not have a television broadcast and can be streamed through FanCode. In Australia, the series is being broadcast through Fox Cricket and Kayo.
What to Expect From the 2nd ODI
The second match gives Zimbabwe an opportunity to bring the series level, while Australia can secure the series with another victory. The visitors will also be assessing combinations and player form as they build toward the 2027 World Cup.
