Australia v Zimbabwe, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the fourth ODI, Australia v Zimbabwe, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Harare, August 31, 2014. Zimbabwe won by three wickets. Zimbabwe 4pts. Toss: Australia.
Zimbabwe had first met Australia in a one-day international at the 1983 World Cup - and won. After 30 failed attempts, they finally repeated the trick, again inspired by their captain. Just as Duncan Fletcher's 69 had proved vital that day at Trent Bridge, Chigumbura now produced a gutsy fifty to see his side over the line. Australia had limped to 57 for four against a quartet of spinners - Clarke later questioned why the selectors had left out Steve Smith, one of their best players of the turning ball, and himself a part-time leg-spinner - and ended up with their lowest total against Zimbabwe. Clarke rebuilt alongside Haddin, but had to retire with hamstring pain in the 43rd over, and Zimbabwe seized the opportunity, quickly removing Faulkner and Starc. Clarke returned in the last over, when it seemed Australia might be bowled out, and did the same in the field when it became clear the match was moving beyond Bailey's grasp. Lyon took two early wickets, then three fell for six runs in the middle, and two more as the last ten overs loomed. But Chigumbura refused to give it away. His well-paced innings was ideally complemented by Utseya, who struck the winning runs with a six off Starc for a picture-perfect finish. Australia tumbled from first to fourth in the oneday rankings.
Man of the Match: E. Chigumbura.
Zimbabwe had first met Australia in a one-day international at the 1983 World Cup - and won. After 30 failed attempts, they finally repeated the trick, again inspired by their captain. Just as Duncan Fletcher's 69 had proved vital that day at Trent Bridge, Chigumbura now produced a gutsy fifty to see his side over the line. Australia had limped to 57 for four against a quartet of spinners - Clarke later questioned why the selectors had left out Steve Smith, one of their best players of the turning ball, and himself a part-time leg-spinner - and ended up with their lowest total against Zimbabwe. Clarke rebuilt alongside Haddin, but had to retire with hamstring pain in the 43rd over, and Zimbabwe seized the opportunity, quickly removing Faulkner and Starc. Clarke returned in the last over, when it seemed Australia might be bowled out, and did the same in the field when it became clear the match was moving beyond Bailey's grasp. Lyon took two early wickets, then three fell for six runs in the middle, and two more as the last ten overs loomed. But Chigumbura refused to give it away. His well-paced innings was ideally complemented by Utseya, who struck the winning runs with a six off Starc for a picture-perfect finish. Australia tumbled from first to fourth in the oneday rankings.
Man of the Match: E. Chigumbura.