Zampa joins Warne in 200-wicket club as Head century seals Australia's ODI series in Harare

Adam Zampa wrote his name into Australian cricket history on Saturday, becoming only the second spinner in his country's ODI history after Shane Warne to claim 200 wickets, as a resurgent Travis Head hammered a century to power Australia to an 84-run win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI at Harare — a victory that sealed the three-match series 2-0 with a game to spare.

Zampa joins Warne in Australia's elite spin club

Zampa reached the milestone after returning figures of 2/62 from nine overs in Australia's successful defence of a 357-run target, accounting for Innocent Kaia and Craig Ervine. The leg-spinner now has 201 wickets in 123 ODIs at an average of 29.48, with 12 four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul to his name.

He becomes the seventh Australian bowler to get to 200 ODI wickets, joining an elite group led by Glenn McGrath, who tops the country's list with 380 scalps. Warne, the only other Australian spinner in the 200-club, remains Australia's leading ODI spinner with 291 wickets in 193 matches.

Head back to his best with blazing century

If Zampa's evening was about history, Head's afternoon was about form. The left-hander smashed 112 off just 84 balls, laced with 15 fours and three sixes, to lay the foundation for Australia's imposing total of 356/6 — and in the process crossed the 9,000-run mark in international cricket.

Head now has 9,111 runs in 201 international matches and 243 innings at an average of 40.31 and a strike rate of 87.08, with 20 centuries, 43 half-centuries and a highest score of 175.

He shared a 130-run opening stand with captain Mitchell Marsh, who made 53 off 63 balls with three fours and three sixes, and then added 60 runs with Cooper Connolly, whose 78 came off 69 deliveries. A late flourish from Oliver Peake — an unbeaten 41 from just 18 balls — lifted Australia past 350. Brad Evans, with 3/56, was Zimbabwe's most successful bowler.

Zimbabwe fall short despite top-order starts

The chase began promisingly enough, with each of Zimbabwe's top six getting in, but none could convert a start into a match-defining score. The hosts slipped to 187/5 and never truly recovered.

Sikandar Raza top-scored with 45 off 49 balls, while Brendan Taylor made 39 off 40 and Craig Ervine 38 off 39. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 272 in 48.3 overs, with Josh Hazlewood, Connolly, Matthew Renshaw and Zampa taking two wickets apiece.

The result handed Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with the third and final ODI still to be played.