A late fightback from the visitors resulted in a historical feat: Player Ratings from Zimbabwe’s ODI series defeat against Australia  

A historic One-Day International bilateral Australia tour of Zimbabwe ends with the Chevrons keeping their pride in the final fixture. The African Bravehearts stunned the full-strength roster of the five-time World Champions and saved themselves from a whitewashing outcome. 

Let’s take a look at the player ratings and detailed performances report of Team Zimbabwe from this away series against Australia.

Batters

Tadiwanashe Marumani (7/10): The highest scorer for Zimbabwe was also the only member of the Red Army who made it to the list of Top 3 run-scorers in this series. The 20-year-old youngster who made his international debut just a year ago brought up his individual tally to 84 runs from three innings. He kick-started the campaign with an individual feat after bringing up his highest ODI score of 45 in the opening game. 

Marumani then went on to score 35 runs off 47 balls in the final fixture and emerged as their second-highest run-scorer of that match. His vital contribution helped his nation to successfully chase the given target of 142 as he held one end for a long period.

The young Chevron is on the rise!

Wesley Madhevere (7/10): Another young batter who now holds a prominent position in the batting lineup of Zimbabwe. The 21-year-old’s individual tally of 74 runs from three innings was the fifth highest in this series. 

Madhevere was the highest scorer in the first ODI where he played an incredible knock of 72 runs and had a lion’s share in Zimbabwe being able to post the first-inning total of 200. 

Takudzwanashe Kaitano (5/10): Kaitano got the opportunity to make his eighth international appearance in the final fixture where he replaced Innocent Kaia at the top. He opened the Zimbabwean along with Tadiwanashe Marumani and gave them a steady start for a successful chase. He contributed 19 runs in the opening stand of 38 which provided a base for their triumph at Townsville. 

Innocent Kaia (4/10): The late-bloomer of international cricket started the series as Chevron’s first-choice opener but eventually lost his place in the team. Kaia could fetch only 19 runs from the first two games including a 17-run innings in the opening ODI. He was dropped from the playing eleven for the final as Takudzwanashe Kaitano was preferred for the same role.

Regis Chakabva (7/10): All eyes were on the Zimbabwean skipper who could not impress much with his willow in the home series against India. Defying all odds, the veteran wicketkeeping batter emerged as the second-highest run-scorer for the Reds camp in this series. He scored 78 runs in this series at an average of 39 which was also the highest among Zimbabwean batters. 

Chakabva stepped up to play captain’s innings when the team needed it the most as their pride was on the line. He arrived at the battlefield when they were four wickets down on 66 and took them towards the historic triumph through his robust stand of 37 not out from 72 balls. 

Tony Munyonga (4/10): A forgettable series for the right-handed who was demoted down the order midway through the campaign. Munyonga batted at Number 4 in the first ODI but failed to leave an impression as the team management decided to send him at seven in the following game. However, the 23-year-old faced difficulties in adapting to the new role and could fetch only 27 runs in two appearances at number seven. 

All-rounders

Sikandar Raza (6/10): The Zimbabwean fans had great expectations from the veteran all-rounder who has ten years of international cricket experience on his back. Especially after having such a great home limited-overs campaign against India where he struck a marvellous century in the final ODI. However, Raza couldn’t sustain the purple patch on Australian soil as the Pakistan-born could bag only 30 runs and a solitary wicket from this series. 

Sean Williams (5/10): The 36-year-old missed the opening game after suffering an injury blow on his right elbow during the nets session. However, he returned to the Reds’ playing XI in the very next fixture and made a contribution of around 30% of the team’s total of 96. 

A fighting knock of 29 runs off 45 balls in his returning game was followed by a golden duck in the Third ODI where his presence was essential for his nation. 

A historic fifer for the Zimbabwean magician 

Ryan Burl (8/10): The Marondera-born all-rounder was undoubtedly the most valuable player from the Reds camp on this tour. He emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the series despite bowling only ten overs in the series. It was the breakthrough performance for the leg-spinner who fetched a whopping total of eight wickets from just three matches. 

Burl was the chief architect of their three-wicket victory where he registered a five-wicket haul inside his three-over spell and also claimed Player of the Match honour. He also turned up with the bat for his nation and made a key contribution of 23 runs.

Bowlers

Richard Ngarava (7/10): The Harare-born left-arm pacer is leading the Zimbabwean speed attack in the absence of Blessing Muzarabani for the past few months. Ngarava was the only bowler from the visiting side who picked at least a wicket in all games of the series to eventually end up on four wickets from three appearances. He emerged as the nightmare of Aaron Finch as the Australian skipper was dismissed by him in each and every fixture of the series.

Victor Nyauchi (6/10): The 30-year-old was given the nod for the opening game but failed to capitalise on it after registering the bowling figures of 0 for 20 in five overs. He faced the consequences of that performance by losing his place to all-rounder Sean Williams in the team. However, Nayuchi was called up again in the final game but this time he delivered an impressive show by dismissing the danger-man Steve Smith through lbw. 

Brad Evans (6/10): The 25-year-old is having a great run since his debut on the one-day international stage in August 2022. Evans could not make any impact in the first two games and remained wicketless despite bowling a total of ten overs. Then he went on to dismiss the two Australian middle-order batters to end the campaign on a positive note. 

Luke Jongwe (3/10): The right-pacer who has 87 international wickets under his helm got very few opportunities in this series. In total, Jongwe bowled only four overs from two appearances in this series before he was dropped from the playing XI for the final fixture.

Especially in the first ODI where he bowled only a single over in Zimbabwe’s bowling innings which lasted for 34 overs.