Australia v Zimbabwe, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Australia v Zimbabwe, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Harare, August 25, 2014. Australia won by 198 runs. Australia 350-6 (50 overs) (A. J. Finch 67, B. J. Haddin 46, M. R. Marsh 89, G. J. Maxwell 93); ‡Zimbabwe 152 (39.3 overs) (Sikandar Raza 33, H. Masakadza 70; S. P. D. Smith 3-16). Australia 5pts. MoM: M. R. Marsh.
Australia, led by George Bailey after Michael Clarke withdrew with a hamstring complaint, piled up a record total at the Harare Sports Club. On a ground notorious for laboured scoring, they initially struggled until Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell put on 109 in nine overs as they both dashed off career-bests. In all, the last 11 overs produced 157. The pair struck nine sixes between them, and Mitchell Johnson another, which smashed the commentary-box window - supposedly shatterproof - and left the shocked TV commentator Pommie Mbangwa brushing shards of glass off his shirt. Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza responded with 63 for Zimbabwe's second wicket, but Johnson - the subject of anxious discussion among the hosts - forced a nervous glide to slip from the recalled Brendan Taylor, struck Elton Chigumbura on the helmet, and conceded just seven runs in six overs.
Australia, led by George Bailey after Michael Clarke withdrew with a hamstring complaint, piled up a record total at the Harare Sports Club. On a ground notorious for laboured scoring, they initially struggled until Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell put on 109 in nine overs as they both dashed off career-bests. In all, the last 11 overs produced 157. The pair struck nine sixes between them, and Mitchell Johnson another, which smashed the commentary-box window - supposedly shatterproof - and left the shocked TV commentator Pommie Mbangwa brushing shards of glass off his shirt. Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza responded with 63 for Zimbabwe's second wicket, but Johnson - the subject of anxious discussion among the hosts - forced a nervous glide to slip from the recalled Brendan Taylor, struck Elton Chigumbura on the helmet, and conceded just seven runs in six overs.