Head inspires Australia to 84-run victory over Zimbabwe to clinch ODI series

[p]Head bludgeoned 112 runs off 84 ‌balls as the visitors' top order [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/australia-OxG0JfXg/zimbabwe-pCUnmKBm/?mid=E5pyzyS9"]laid the platform for victory[/a] in the second ‌of three ODIs at the Harare Sports Club with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]Australia[/a] ‌put to bat first and scoring 356-6 before dismissing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zimbabwe/pCUnmKBm/"]Zimbabwe[/a] for 272 ‌in 48.3 overs.[/p][p][b]It was Australia's highest score against Zimbabwe in an ‌ODI.[/b][/p][p]Australia won the opening clash of the series by 59 runs on Tuesday and quickly took command on Friday as Head and captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marsh-mitchell/UovVueNf/"]Mitchell Marsh[/a] ‌put on 130 runs for the opening stand ⁠and then Head added another ‌60 with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/connolly-cooper/jPqaRayb/"]Cooper Connolly[/a] for the second wicket.[/p][p]Marsh, who was dropped first ball ​of the game, scored 53 from 63 balls while Connolly hit 78 off 69 balls to go past fifty for ​a third successive ODI.[/p][p][b]But the most brutal batting came at the end of the innings as 20-year-old Ollie Peake scored an unbeaten ⁠41 runs from 18 ​balls including three sixes in the final over as Zimbabwe pacer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/evans-brad/WnewNaqj/"]Brad Evans[/a] was hit to all corners. Evans did get three wickets in the innings but for an expensive 86 runs off his nine ‌overs.[/b][/p][embed guid="b5aa399c-0202-4012-8c66-06658fdb3433" url="https://x.com/ICC/status/2100875557395415499" social-type="twitter" /][p]In reply, Zimbabwe quickly fell behind the required run rate as Australia pegged them back despite a good batting top with the home side taking 14 overs to get to 50 runs.[/p][p]Captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raza-sikandar/vLX4UoFq/"]Sikandar Raza[/a] top scored for Zimbabwe with 45 while 40-year-old Brendan Taylor, who only on Tuesday replaced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] great Sachin Tendulkar as the longest-serving one-day international player, scored 39.[/p][p]Spinner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zampa-adam/UecZYPql/"]Adam Zampa[/a] took 2-62 to go past 200 ODI wickets while opening bowler [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hazlewood-josh/zkKrMn0r/"]Josh Hazlewood[/a] returned from ‌injury to take 2-48 in nine overs as the wickets were ​spread around the Australia attack, which lost [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stanlake-billy/vouxk9lT/"]Billy Stanlake[/a] to ‌injury.[/p][p][b]"I thought it was a complete performance from the boys and when Big Billy went down, our part-time bowlers stepped in,"[/b] said Marsh. [b]"They all loved it and were keen for it."[/b][/p][p]The last ODI of the series is on Sunday after which Australia ⁠head to neighbouring [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/tUhlKzIm/"]South Africa[/a] ⁠for another three-match series, starting ‌next Tuesday in Durban.[/p]