Josh Inglis ton seals one-wicket thriller as Australia complete 3-0 sweep in Zimbabwe

Australia survived a heart-stopping finale in Harare to complete a clean sweep of their one-day international series against Zimbabwe, edging the third and final ODI by a single wicket with one ball to spare.

Josh Inglis anchored the chase of 272 with a composed 103 from 102 balls, but his dismissal in the 42nd over sparked a collapse that left the tourists teetering. When Adam Zampa became the ninth wicket to fall at 245 for 9 in the 46th over, Australia still needed 27 runs from the remaining 28 deliveries. Nathan Ellis and last man Spencer Johnson held their nerve, adding an unbroken 27 for the tenth wicket to see Australia home at 272 for 9 from 49.5 overs.

Ellis finished 36 not out from 44 balls, while Johnson made 7 not out, after Australia had earlier slumped from 162 for 4 to 227 for 8 in the face of a spirited Zimbabwe fightback.

Zimbabwe rally behind Raza

Earlier, Zimbabwe chose to bat after winning the toss and posted 271 for 8 in their 50 overs, built around captain Sikandar Raza's unbeaten 81 from 72 balls, laced with seven fours and a six. Craig Ervine made 59 from 79 deliveries and Innocent Kaia struck 55 from 66 before retiring hurt, while Brian Bennett gave the innings early momentum with 30 from 29 balls.

Ben Curran (7) and Brendan Taylor (9) fell cheaply, and once Ervine departed at 209 for 4 in the 41st over the tail folded quickly — Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans and Graeme Cremer all fell inside four overs before Ernest Masuku was run out in the final over, leaving Raza and Blessing Muzarabani unbeaten at the close.

Nathan Ellis was Australia's most successful bowler with 3 for 50, and there were two wickets apiece for Spencer Johnson and Adam Zampa. Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly and Matt Renshaw went wicketless.

Evans leads Zimbabwe's charge

Zimbabwe's own Brad Evans was the standout bowler of the match with 4 for 47, striking twice inside the first four overs of the chase. Captain Mitchell Marsh holed out to Brendan Taylor for 8 and Travis Head was caught by a substitute fielder for 6 as Australia stumbled to 25 for 2 inside four overs.

Inglis and Alex Carey (34) repaired the damage with a fourth-wicket stand of 85 before Carey was caught by Madhevere off Evans. Matt Renshaw (4), Ollie Peake (19) and Xavier Bartlett (3) then fell in quick succession, and Inglis — who struck 11 fours in his 102-ball innings — was bowled by Raza at 227 for 8 in the 42nd over.

Graeme Cremer claimed 2 for 53, Raza finished with 2 for 42 and Madhevere took 1 for 34, while Blessing Muzarabani (0 for 49) and Ernest Masuku (0 for 38) went wicketless.

Sweep sealed

The one-wicket win capped a 3-0 sweep for Australia, who took the series opener by 59 runs before clinching the series with Friday's 84-run triumph in the second ODI — their first tour of Zimbabwe for one-day internationals in 12 years.

Scorecard summary

• Zimbabwe 271 for 8 (50 overs): Sikandar Raza 81 not out, Craig Ervine 59, Innocent Kaia 55 retired hurt, Brian Bennett 30; Nathan Ellis 3 for 50, Spencer Johnson 2 for 50, Adam Zampa 2 for 53.
• Australia 272 for 9 (49.5 overs): Josh Inglis 103, Nathan Ellis 36 not out, Alex Carey 34; Brad Evans 4 for 47, Graeme Cremer 2 for 53, Sikandar Raza 2 for 42.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat at Harare Sports Club, with play starting at 08:30 UK time. The officials were Alex Wharf, Forster Mutizwa, Rashid Riaz, Andy Pycroft and Percival Sizara.