Player of the Match
Player of the Match

1:15pm Well then. Zimbabwe will have to have a hard look at their batting once again as the final game beckons on Saturday. Will they put up a better show then? As for Australia, Finch's returns with the bat could be a concern for them. Will they look to bat first in the final ODI? Do join us on Saturday to find out. That's all we have for you today. I, Sudarshanan, sign off on behalf of Vairavan and Himanshu. Adios!

1:10pm Time for the presentation.

Aaron Finch, Australia captain: "I thought [bowling] was clinical. The tone set by Starc and Hazlewood was terrific. Couldn't have gone more to plan there. [Carey at No. 4] I think we have to be flexible and understand where you play. Over the next little while, we have to keep experimenting with the different ways to play one day cricket. I have chatted to the boys about flexibility in selection. You just want to keep playing good cricket regardless of the result."

Regis Chakabva, Zimbabwe captain: "I thought Oz bowled really well at us. They used the wicket well and we did not get the guys going and it is unfortunate. It is huge. [On touring Australia] We always want to play against the best. When we came here we knew it was going to be a test for us. I thought the first game went well but today, a lot's to take back. Even though we had a very low total, the bowlers came fighting hard."

Mitchell Starc, player of the match for his three-for: "Few conversations on the golf course. The wicket had a good covering of the grass and was a bit poppy and tennis-ball like ball. Josh and I had to be a bit fuller and attack the stumps more. Our powerplay was good today and the bowling was a big tick today. [Smith] He looked to take the game on and that's the Steve we have seen ten-plus years. He is striking the ball nicely."

Hang around for the presentation, which Suds will bring to you.

Sarthak: "Pretty hard to look beyond Maxi for captainship for LOIs I think. Marsh might be the next best if he wasn't on a hospital bed every month. None of the other guys are regulars in both ODIs and T20Is."

John: "I personally think you can carry a specialist captain in t20 cricket, as bowling/fielding tactics are so important in such a short game. Just my view anyway"

1.32pm Barely a contest, although the entertainment with those two early Australian wickets looked good while it lasted. No trouble after that, as Smith batted like Warner would have loved to - and Finch would have at least hoped to - and carried his side home. Starc set it up early with the ball, and Zimbabwe never recovered after those three early blows. In the end, Australia win with more than 35 overs left.

14.4
4b
Williams to Smith, 4 byes, he decides to be a left-hander or so, and spotting that, Williams fires it full and flat outside leg. Smith misses his attempted reverse swing, and the ball races away for byes

Free-hit with one to win...

14.4
4nb
Williams to Carey, (no ball) 3 runs, reverse swept over point! Rolls his wrists to this full ball outside off, and gets into position early to send that aerially. And it is a no-ball
14.3
1
Williams to Smith, 1 run, good length ball going on with the angle, and clipped to fine leg
14.3
2w
Williams to Carey, 2 wides, short again, and again turning down leg. He shoulders arms, and they steal a run off a wide

Gareth: "I have no idea why Maxi gets overlooked for the national captaincy in the shorter forms. He's a shrewd operator and shows in his batting, bowling and fielding, and is already one of the first consulted when it comes to tactics and field placings. Give the Big Show the Big Job."

14.2
1
Williams to Smith, 1 run, short and slow on off. Punched to long-on
14.1
1
Williams to Carey, 1 run, short, and turning into leg. Pulled towards short fine leg

Ten to get. Will this de done in this over itself?

END OF OVER:
14 | 9 Runs | AUS: 87/2 (10 runs required from 36 overs, RR: 6.21, RRR: 0.27)

  • Steven Smith45 (38b)
  • Alex Carey22 (31b)
  • Luke Jongwe3-0-13-0
  • Sean Williams1-0-5-0
13.6
0
Jongwe to Smith, no run, sharp short ball going just above his face. Short and angling into leg, as he swayed away while ducking
13.5
4
Jongwe to Smith, FOUR, a hard-handed chip down the ground! That came off the bottom off the bat, as the ball was full and outside off, with Smith closing the bat face to loft that
13.5
1w
Jongwe to Smith, 1 wide, wide again. This time he sees Smith backing away and skipping down, and fires a short ball that flies over Smith's head
13.4
1
Jongwe to Carey, 1 run, nice-looking pull to deep backward square leg off a short ball angling into him
13.4
1w
Jongwe to Carey, 1 wide, slower ball at 112kph. Full and wide of off, and left alone. Wide called
13.3
1
Jongwe to Smith, 1 run, stays deep in the crease to pull, and even does get a short ball, only for it to be just outside off. So he swings that towards fine leg

Happy: "Remember Series between India and Australia where Smith scored 2 centuries? He played very aggressively then" --- Why not? Both of those came off 62 balls...

13.2
0
Jongwe to Smith, no run, makes room, and the bowler follows. Bowls on a good length and gets it to angle in and finish outside leg, as Smith misses his slash
13.1
1
Jongwe to Carey, 1 run, back of a length on middle and off, and clipped to square leg

END OF OVER:
13 | 5 Runs | AUS: 78/2 (19 runs required from 37 overs, RR: 6.00, RRR: 0.51)

  • Steven Smith40 (34b)
  • Alex Carey20 (29b)
  • Sean Williams1-0-5-0
  • Luke Jongwe2-0-4-0
12.6
2
Williams to Smith, 2 runs, lofts this full and loopy ball outside off wide of long-off, and they pinch two
12.5
0
Williams to Smith, no run, off the outside edge to short third, who dives forward and takes it on the bounce
12.4
0
Williams to Smith, no run, makes room, and slashes hard at this short ball outside off, but gets a bottom edge
12.3
1
Williams to Carey, 1 run, pokes this to cover for a quick single

Sankalp: "Let's see if Carey will prevent Smith's 50, like Maxwell did in last match "

12.2
1
Williams to Smith, 1 run, good length ball on his pads, and clipped to short fine leg

Around the stumps to Smith

12.1
1
Williams to Carey, 1 run, short outside off, and pulled to deep square leg

Williams in with the ball now

Australia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st15AJ FinchDA Warner
2nd1AJ FinchSPD Smith
3rd84SPD SmithAT Carey