Twitter Reactions: Australia almost conceded the game to Zimbabwe
The hosts tried their best but the score they posted was below par and eventually lost the thrilling game.
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Australia defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets in the final league game of the ongoing tri-series. Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head prospered for the first time in four matches and steered their side home in a nervy chase of 152 runs. Soloman Mire was once again the hero for Zimbabwe with the bat but his spirited innings went in vain again for the second successive game.
Zimbabwe lost Cephas Zhuwao off the very first delivery of the innings after opting to bat first. But Soloman Mire was left unfazed with it and continued playing his shots. The wickets of Hamilton Masakadza and Tarisai Musakanda left the team reeling at 44/3 in the powerplay. Peter Moor then played his first significant knock of the series and stitched a partnership of 68 runs with Mire and steadied the ship for his team.
They took calculated risks and kept the scoreboard moving. However, when they decided to open their arms with 7 wickets in hand going into the last five overs, Moor was dismissed by Jhye Richardson. Meanwhile, Mire notched up yet another half-century and took the team’s total close to 150. But the wickets at the other end arrested the run-flow as the home side ended up posting a fighting total of 151 runs for the loss of 9 wickets after 20 overs.
Nervy chase
Australia dropped D’Arcy Short finally and promoted Alex Carey to open the innings. But the move failed as both the openers, Carey and Aaron Finch, were back in the hut by the fifth over thanks to tight bowling from Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza. Maxwell and Head came together and resurrected the innings. The former was instrumental in his approach as he played some exquisite shots during his stay in the middle. While Head decided to get himself in and played the second fiddle perfectly.
Both added 103 runs for the third wicket and Australia were sailing towards the victory. Maxwell too smashed his first half-century in so many days marking his return to form in the format. He was dismissed on 56 off just 38 balls in the 17th over by Muzarabani which opened the doors for the hosts. Nic Maddinson was sent back in the next over even as Head lost his cool in the penultimate over to gift away his wicket.
Head’s wicket made things interesting as the game went down to the wire. Ashton Agar and Marcus Stoinis got together and brought the equation down to 7 runs off the final over. The duo, however, kept their nerves to clinch the thriller with one ball to spare.
Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of the game:
Australia struggling to finish this one off #ZIMvAUS
— Matt (@Mattys123) July 6, 2018
How is Maddison anywhere near the Australian team? Consistently proves to be out of depth #ZIMvAUS
— Zac Jardine (@zaccyj) July 6, 2018
Once Zimbabwe defended 8 runs in last over vs MS Dhoni. #ZIMvAUS
— Shivaji Bajpai (@ShivajiThinks) July 6, 2018
And another wide? We're going to win this without having to hit the ball. #ZIMvAUS
— Lady McDeborah to you (@McZameth) July 6, 2018
Australia might still win this but boy, are they choking here or what? A straightforward win converted into a huff and puff.#AUSvZIM #ZIMvAUS
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) July 6, 2018
Australian cricketers need to remember the story of the Tortoisise and the Harare #ZIMvAUS
— Colin Fry (@colinfry666) July 6, 2018
Well this is awkward, I don’t want to beat them but I don’t want to lose. #ZIMvAUS #goaussies
— Lady Lovely Lumps (@Chemu18Cheryl) July 6, 2018
6 balls 7 runs 5 wickets #ZIMvAUS
— Liaqat Hussain (@Edwardian842) July 6, 2018
Last over suspense in Harare. #ZIMvAUS #TriSeries
— Jonathan Northall (@jnorthall) July 6, 2018
7 off the last over needed. Normally you'd think that would be an easy get but they aren't making it look easy at all. #ZIMvAUS
— Lady McDeborah to you (@McZameth) July 6, 2018
Awful chase management. #ZIMvAUS
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) July 6, 2018
Stoinis almost holes out, but lucky for him the fielder couldn't stay in play so he keeps his wicket.
Stupid shot, considering the circumstances.#ZIMvAUS
— Mid Off Cricket (@midoffcricket) July 6, 2018
Cant watch this is so intense to watch #ZIMvAUS
— Cherrykie (@CherrykieMore) July 6, 2018
My god what are we doing here? #ZIMvAUS
— Cam (@handypoint21) July 6, 2018
let's see who's going to win the battle of minnows. Zimbabwe or Australia?#ZIMvAUS
— Waѕiyullah Budye (@WasiyullahB) July 6, 2018
Position Vacant: A psychologist for the Australian cricket team … What's with these collapses FFS? #ZIMvAUS
— HusseyKatichCowan (@GenXMouse) July 6, 2018
My name Travis Head. I like to be cricket head guy one day. Me smart #ZIMvAUS
— Click (@ClickCollins) July 6, 2018
Australia really have some dumb batsman! #ZIMvAUS
— Mark Ashton (@MarkAshton_7) July 6, 2018
There's some guy called Jack Wildermuth playing for Australia today. I'm fairly sure that'll just be Steve Smith using an obviously fake name #ZIMvAUS
— Sean Bennett (@ShandyBenn) July 6, 2018
So Carey opened instead of Maxi? Everyone on tour will get a crack at opening before Maxi. It's bloody pathetic. #ZIMvAUS
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) July 6, 2018
Maddinson is obviously in team to keep quota of at least one player from NSW in Australian team #ZIMvAUS
— Dave Dawson (@demon_dave) July 6, 2018
Quick question, WHY is Nic Maddinson in Australian cricket team? He shouldn’t even be in NSW team #ZIMvAUS
— Dave Dawson (@demon_dave) July 6, 2018
Good game from Zimbabwe. Would have loved a win cause we were close but anyway, good game#ZIMvAUS #TriSeries
— Taku Hillary Chiwanza (@HillzyTakudzwa) July 6, 2018
Damn Zimbabwe A almost beat Australia A .#ZIMvAUS #AUSvZIM #TriSeries
— Karthik Raj (@kartcric) July 6, 2018
Chasing 152, Australia lost 5 wickets and win on the 2nd last ball against poor Zimbabwe. #ZIMvAUS
— Fazal Aslam (@Faxal_Aslam) July 6, 2018
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