Player of the Match
Player of the Match
1872dThe Report by Danyal Rasool

Maxwell, Head bail Australia out in thrilling finish

A century partnership between Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell - the latter smashing an explosive 56 - helped Australia complete the 152-run chase off the penultimate ball of the game with five wickets in hand

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

SF Mire
SF Mire
63(52) 5x4 - 2x6
Control %59%
  • Productive Shot
  • slog shot
  • 15 runs
  • 1x4 - 1x6
14 1 7 6 5 1 11 18
GJ Maxwell
GJ Maxwell
56(38) 1x4 - 5x6
Control %76%
  • Productive Shot
  • cover drive
  • 12 runs
  • 1x4 - 1x6
0 1 3 2 5 18 17 10

Best performances - Bowlers

B Muzarabani
B Muzarabani
O4
M0
R21
W3
Eco5.25
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W1W
AJ Tye
AJ Tye
O4
M0
R28
W3
Eco7.00
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH

Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Alagappan Muthu

That's all we have for you today. Tune in on Sunday when we return for the final between Australia and Pakistan.

"I thought they bowled well towards the end and shows the value of having a set batsman at the end," Aaron Finch, the Australian captain, says. "I think its important to get some time in the middle, get batting rhythm [about the middle order]. They're hitting the balls well in training but nothing compares to match practices. The bowling was very good, we restricted Zimbabwe 15-20 runs short of what they'd have liked. We've been working up so far and hopefully we peak in the final"

Andrew Tye is the Man of the Match for his fourth successive three-for. He also wrapped up 50 T20 wickets in the year. "It's something I've been working on, taking wickets at crucial times. I've got lucky in this series, taking wickets in the death and stopping teams when they want more runs. Good that we got the win today, hopefully as a team we get a win on Sunday too. Just got to look at where the batsmen are trying to hit balls and then mix their rhythm up by changing pace, the line and length. So just trying to adapt to every batsman because they're all different. We've had a few troubles but I think we;re saving our best for the last"

"Fought well and took it to the end, which was good. The wicket played slower than expected and we couldn't quite kick on in the end even though we had a good partnership in the middle" Hamilton Masakadza, the Zimbabwe captain, says. "We spoke about coming back from the first two games and the guys expressing themselves and I think Mire did that brilliantly. We are on the up now and I'm sure we'll keep getting better and hopefully we'll get a W in the Pakistan one-dayers"

1.30 pm Zimbabwe - minus several of their best players and their premier fast bowler injured - have forced Australia to take a modest chase of 152 all the way to the penultimate ball of the match. The W won't be against their name, but Hamilton Masakadza's men have fought so very hard today; it was their last chance in the tri-series for a win and the bowlers were especially feisty. Blessing Muzarabani's bounce was always hard to deal with. Donald Tiripano and his slower balls were hard to read. And legspinner Brandon Mavuta's debut wasn't a bad one either

But Glenn Maxwell (56 off 38) and Travis Head (48 off 42) saw past their threat and will rightly be credited with this victory. Their 100-plus partnership after two early wickets stabilised the innings. But that collapse in the end would have sent a few nerves jangling. Three wickets in the last five overs, with a straightforward win in sight, will probably go down as an "x" in the coach Justin Langer's little black book.

Pyumba: "This is the reason y Zimbabwe is not in the world cup and Australia is......Handling the pressure!!!" --- Actually, they were only a couple of runs short of making it, so let's not point fingers.

19.5
4
Tiripano to Stoinis, FOUR, low full toss, which Stoinis smashes over square leg and it's Australia's game

Third man up. Square leg is up. Midwicket is up, but there's also one back.

Stoinis back on strike, with Australia needing two from two

19.4
1
Tiripano to Agar, 1 run, smacks it to mid-off and just sets off. Masakadza fumbles as well, allowing Australia's desperation move to succeed, despite his recovery and subsequent direct hit

Three from three now... and it's Agar on strike again

19.3
1
Tiripano to Stoinis, 1 run, slower short ball, which Stoinis pulls for a single to deep square leg

Fine leg up, third man back, midwicket up, square leg back.... Oh but wait, fine leg goes back now

19.2
1
Tiripano to Agar, 1 run, low full toss which Agar inside edges onto pad. Stoinis, the better batsman of the two, races away to steal the strike.

Ali cheema : "Just a reminder zimbabwe won't be playing world cup next year. " --- Meanwhile, Australia need five from five

19.1
0
Tiripano to Agar, no run, good length and it's the offcutter again. Agar pokes and misses
19.1
1w
Tiripano to Agar, 1 wide, slower ball outside off, Agar flashes and misses as it spins away from him. Harsh call from the umpire to label that a wide though. Doubt it was.

Australia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st15AJ FinchAT Carey
2nd11AT CareyTM Head
3rd103GJ MaxwellTM Head
4th5NJ MaddinsonTM Head
5th5MP StoinisTM Head
6th15MP StoinisAC Agar