ZIM vs AUS 1st ODI Results

4:00 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Matt Renshaw wins the award for his all-round brilliance. He scored 109 off 94 balls and picked up 1/34 (4) with the ball. Renshaw says he just wanted to rebuild after they lost quick wickets, noting he was not under pressure and wanted to build a partnership. He says the pitch was hard and it got better as the game progressed, and he wanted to use that to his advantage, adding that it is always good to score a ton in ODIs and they are looking forward to the ODI World Cup next year here.

3:59 PM IST The victorious skipper of Australia - Mitchell Marsh, on winning the match and representing Australia for the 100th time in ODIs, says it is a special day and a huge honour to represent Australia 100 times, and it is always really important in a three-match series to start with a win. On Australia's batting innings, he says they lost a couple of wickets in a little patch throughout the middle, but the way Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw built that partnership was crucial and Renshaw's innings was fantastic and got them to a really, probably just above-par total. On Matt Renshaw's maiden ODI hundred, he says they believe he is a quality player and has been for a long time, and now he is starting to take his opportunities and really sell himself in this line-up as he is very popular around the group and bowls really good off-spin, so it is a handy package and he is really proud of him as his first ODI 100 for Australia is always really special. On Nathan Ellis' first five-wicket haul in ODIs, he says he is a gem, an absolute gem, and he believes he is one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world who can bowl in all phases, wears his heart on his sleeve, and it is a privilege having him outside, so he is very happy for him and he was pumped to get his first five-wicket. On areas for improvement, he says there are always areas to improve and they are always looking for those little one percenters that they can keep improving and hopefully they can do that in the second game. On the crowd in Harare, he says it was great and he remembers sitting in those stands, he used to go and sit out there and sing all day, though he did not know what he was singing. It brings great memories and the music was going all day. He does not know how they do it but it was a great atmosphere.

3:59 PM IST That's a wrap from Harare - That brings us to the end of an entertaining contest, with Australia taking an early lead in the series. They will now look to seal the series in the next game, while Zimbabwe will be determined to bounce back and force a decider. We will be back here at the Harare Sports Club for the second ODI on Friday, September 18. The match gets underway at 7.30 am GMT, but make sure to join us early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

3:50 PM IST The captain of Zimbabwe - Sikandar Raza says that they are disappointed with the result, especially after feeling they were in the contest for large parts of the game. He admits they did not start particularly well but was pleased with the way the side fought their way back into the match. He feels the game ultimately slipped away from them and believes a better showing with both bat and ball could have produced a different outcome. On whether greater discipline with the ball could have changed the result, Raza says it certainly could have. He describes it as a good but consistently slow wicket with few demons and says they needed to bowl disciplined lines and make the batters work for their runs. Instead, they offered too many loose deliveries that were put away to the boundary. Raza ends by saying that a better start and improved execution could have changed the story, but hopes the team will learn from the experience and return stronger in the next game.

3:41 PM IST Presentation Time...

3:41 PM IST Ellis caps off a memorable five-wicket haul - Australia made a sharp start with the ball, as Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett found early movement, with Bartlett striking quickly to set the tone. Nathan Ellis then shifted the momentum in the ninth over, removing both set batters, before Renshaw chipped in with another wicket. Zimbabwe fought back through the middle overs as Australia's spinners struggled to create the same impact, but Marsh turned to Ellis again and the pacer broke the big partnership on his return. Spencer Johnson then produced an unplayable yorker to remove Raza, and Australia never looked back. Cooper Connolly and Adam Zampa added a wicket each before Ellis fittingly returned to finish the job, completing a magnificent maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs as Australia wrapped up a comprehensive victory.