Australia vs Zimbabwe: Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa bulldoze past visitors to seal series
India Today
Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa combined to smash Zimbabwe in the 2nd ODI game of the three match series. The two bowlers picked three a piece to skittle the opposition for just 96 runs.
Hosts Australia took an unassailable lead in the ODI series against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, 31 August, winning their second match by a big margin of 8 wickets. The Aaron Finch led side marched to victory after the duo of Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa went through the visitors' batting order, bundling them out for just 96 runs in the first innings of the game.
Zimbabwe were unable to repeat their respectable performance from game one, crumbling for 96 all out in 27.5 overs. In reply, Australia peeled off 100-2 in 14.4 overs before a modest weekday crowd.
"Pretty clinical today," Starc said in the post-match news conference.
"Some guys are coming off some cricket, others are coming off a few weeks of no matches. I think everyone's finding a nice rhythm."
Starc started off the proceedings at the top, knocking out the entire top order. The left arm-pacer has been in good form off late in the select few matches building on to the T20 World Cup. Australia remain favourites to win the trophy as defending champion, but have to sort out their batting order to give them the best chance at exploring their explosive best. One of the point of contention has been the presence of Steve Smith as a floater in the middle order, a role that was explored in the T20 World Cup in UAE.
On the day, the former Australia captain played a brisk knock of 47 off 41 balls to take the team over the line, without wasting much time. Albeit against Zimbabwe, the knock is important for Smith to make a push for the World Cup squads, both in Australia and in India (2023).
