Harare: Australian leg-spinnerAdam Zampa joined the late Shane Warne in an elite list of Australian bowlers after becoming only the second spinner from the country to claim 200 wickets in One-Day Internationals during the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare .
Zampa reached the milestone on Friday as Australia successfully defended a total of 356/6 to defeat Zimbabwe by 84 runs and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The 33-year-old returned figures of 2/62 from nine overs, dismissing Innocent Kaia and Craig Ervine during Zimbabwe’s chase. The two wickets took his ODI tally to 201, making him the seventh Australian bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in the format.
Zampa joins Shane Warne among Australian spinners
Zampa’s achievement places him alongside one of Australia’s most celebrated spin bowlers, Shane Warne.
Warne remains Australia’s leading ODI wicket-taker among spinners and third overall, with 291 wickets from 193 matches. His career included a major role in Australia’s dominance of limited-overs cricket during the 1990s and 2000s.
Zampa, meanwhile, has reached 201 wickets in 123 ODIs at an average of 29.48. His record includes 12 four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.
Among Australian bowlers overall, former pace spearhead Glenn McGrath remains the leading ODI wicket-taker with 380 wickets from 249 matches.
Zampa’s consistency with the ball has made him a central part of Australia’s limited-overs plans, particularly since taking on a larger role as the team’s principal specialist spinner.
Travis Head returns to form with eighth ODI century
Australia’s victory was also powered by a brilliant innings from opener Travis Head, who returned to form with a commanding century.
Head scored 112 from 84 deliveries, striking 15 fours and three sixes. The innings was his eighth ODI century and played a major role in Australia posting a formidable total.
His innings also took him past the milestone of 9,000 international runs.
Head has now accumulated 9,111 international runs in 201 matches and 243 innings, averaging 40.31. His overall record includes 20 international centuries and 43 fifties, with a highest score of 175.
The left-hander has become an important component of Australia’s batting across formats, particularly at the top of the order.
Head and Marsh build strong opening platform
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first, but Australia quickly established control through a strong partnership between Head and captain Mitchell Marsh.
Marsh scored 53 from 63 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, as he and Head put together a 130-run partnership.
The stand provided Australia with the foundation needed to build a sizeable total after being sent in to bat.
After Marsh’s dismissal, Head continued his attack and added another 60 runs with Cooper Connolly.
Connolly made a valuable contribution of 78 from 69 balls, including three fours and three sixes, keeping the scoring rate high during the middle overs.
Peake provides late acceleration
Australia received another boost in the closing stages through an aggressive cameo from Oliver Peake.
Peake remained unbeaten on 41 from just 18 deliveries, hitting two fours and three sixes. His late hitting helped Australia accelerate significantly and finish on 356/6 from their 50 overs.
For Zimbabwe, Brad Evans was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 3/56.
The Zimbabwe bowlers struggled to contain Australia’s scoring during the latter stages, with Head, Connolly and Peake combining to ensure the visitors finished with a substantial total.
Zimbabwe batters make starts but fail to convert
Zimbabwe faced a difficult chase of 357 but were unable to maintain the required scoring rate for long periods.
Several of their top-order batters got starts, but none could produce the substantial innings required to keep the hosts in contention.
Zimbabwe lost half their side for 187 runs, leaving them under increasing pressure as Australia’s bowlers tightened their control.
Captain Sikandar Raza was among the leading contributors, scoring 45 from 49 balls with five fours.
Brendan Taylor made 39 from 40 deliveries, hitting three fours, while Craig Ervine scored 38 from 39 balls with three fours.
Despite these contributions, Zimbabwe’s batting line-up could not establish a decisive partnership capable of threatening Australia’s total.
Australia bowlers complete 84-run victory
Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 272 in 48.3 overs, giving Australia an 84-run victory.
Zampa was among four Australian bowlers to claim two wickets. Josh Hazlewood, Cooper Connolly and Matthew Renshaw also finished with two wickets each.
Zampa’s two wickets had additional significance as they completed his passage beyond 200 ODI wickets.
His milestone came on a day when Australia also produced a strong all-round performance, combining Head’s century, contributions from Marsh and Connolly, Peake’s late hitting and disciplined bowling to seal the match.
Australia takes 2-0 series lead
The victory gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one ODI still remaining.
For Zampa, the match will be remembered for reaching a landmark that has been achieved by only a handful of Australian bowlers.
His 201 ODI wickets now place him alongside Warne as only the second Australian spinner to reach 200 wickets in the format. With the series already secured, the final match will give Australia an opportunity to complete a series sweep while Zimbabwe will look to finish the contest with a victory.