Australia vs Zimbabwe Prediction, 2nd ODI, Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026

Australia vs Zimbabwe prediction for the second ODI of the Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 points towards another competitive contest at Harare Sports Club on September 18. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the opening game by 59 runs, but Zimbabwe showed enough with the ball and through parts of their chase to suggest that the hosts can challenge again.

Australia posted 294/8 in the first ODI after Matt Renshaw produced his maiden ODI century, scoring 109 from 94 balls. Cooper Connolly also contributed 51, while Nathan Ellis then produced a five-wicket haul as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 235 in 45.1 overs.

Zimbabwe’s batting was led by Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza, who made 59 and 57 respectively, but the middle order could not maintain the required scoring rate. Newman Nyamhuri’s 5/62 was a major positive with the ball, particularly against an Australian batting group that lost wickets at regular intervals.

The second ODI therefore has a clear series context. Australia can take an unassailable 2-0 lead with another victory, while Zimbabwe need to respond immediately to keep the series alive before the final ODI on September 20.

The hosts also have the advantage of familiarity with Harare Sports Club, although Australia’s recent record at this venue and their greater depth across batting and bowling make the contest difficult to call purely on home conditions. Zimbabwe’s challenge will be to turn their early breakthroughs and promising partnerships into longer periods of control.

The first match also provided useful clues about the likely tactical battle. Australia’s lower-middle order showed it can rebuild after wickets, while Zimbabwe’s new-ball and middle-overs bowling created opportunities. The second ODI could again be decided by whether Zimbabwe can remove Australia’s leading batters early and whether their own middle order can sustain the chase.

Match Details

Match	Date	Time	Venue	Tournament/Series
2nd ODI – Zimbabwe vs Australia	18 September 2026	9:30 AM local / 1:00 PM IST	Harare Sports Club, Harare	Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026

Australia lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.

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Australia Last 5 ODI Matches

Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Opponent Score	Margin
15 Sep 2026	Zimbabwe	Won	294/8	235	Won by 59 runs
14 Jun 2026	Bangladesh	Won	277/9	274/5	Won by 1 wicket
11 Jun 2026	Bangladesh	Lost	187/8	195/5	Lost by 5 wickets, DLS
9 Jun 2026	Bangladesh	Lost	191/9	284/8	Lost by 86 runs, DLS
4 Jun 2026	Pakistan	Lost	157	161/6	Lost by 4 wickets

Australia’s recent ODI record is therefore 2 wins and 3 losses across their five most recent matches. Their form is more encouraging than the bare record suggests because the two wins came in very different circumstances: a narrow chase against Bangladesh followed by a controlled 59-run victory over Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Last 5 ODI Matches

Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Opponent Score	Margin
15 Sep 2026	Australia	Lost	235	294/8	Lost by 59 runs
11 Jul 2026	Bangladesh	Lost	199	200/3	Lost by 7 wickets
9 Jul 2026	Bangladesh	Won	247/6	234	Won by 13 runs
6 Jul 2026	Bangladesh	Won	141	116	Won by 25 runs
31 Aug 2025	Sri Lanka	Lost	277/7	278/5	Lost by 5 wickets

Zimbabwe have 2 wins and 3 losses in their five most recent ODIs. Their three-match series against Bangladesh in July showed that they can put pressure on opponents at Harare Sports Club, particularly when their bowling attack gets early assistance.

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Australia Team Preview

Australia enter the second ODI with confidence after a convincing opening victory, but their batting still has areas that Zimbabwe can target.

The top order did not dominate the first match. Travis Head was dismissed for 4, while Mitchell Marsh made 36 and Cooper Connolly scored 51. The important difference was Australia’s ability to recover after reaching 107/4. Renshaw’s 109 provided the innings with its major acceleration and allowed Australia to reach 294/8.

That middle-order resilience could again be decisive. Alex Carey offers experience around the rebuilding phase, while Renshaw demonstrated that he can bat through a significant portion of the innings. Oliver Peake also adds another developing option in the middle and lower order.

Powerplay

Australia will want Head and Marsh to establish a stronger opening platform. Head’s dismissal in the first ODI continued a difficult recent run, and Zimbabwe’s quicks will recognise that attacking him early can put Australia’s middle order under pressure.

At the same time, Australia have shown that they do not necessarily need a huge powerplay to reach a competitive ODI total. The key is preserving wickets for the final 25 overs.

Middle Overs

Connolly, Carey and Renshaw are particularly important in this phase. Zimbabwe’s spin options, especially Sikandar Raza and Wellington Masakadza, can attempt to slow Australia’s scoring while creating pressure for attacking strokes.

Renshaw’s first-ODI century was particularly valuable because he combined consolidation with acceleration. Australia will want a similar innings structure rather than relying entirely on late hitting.

Death Overs

Australia have enough batting depth to attack the final 10 overs, but the first ODI showed that Zimbabwe can continue taking wickets late. Nyamhuri’s five-wicket haul was a major warning.

Australia’s bowling is arguably the stronger part of the current combination. Ellis’ 5/31 demonstrated his ability to strike during multiple phases, while Adam Zampa remains an important middle-over wicket-taker.

The main selection question concerns the pace combination. Cameron Green missed the first ODI with shoulder soreness and Josh Hazlewood was managed, so the final XI should be checked after the official team announcement.

Australia’s path to victory is relatively straightforward: avoid another early cluster of wickets, use their greater batting depth, and attack Zimbabwe’s top order with disciplined new-ball bowling.

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Zimbabwe Team Preview

Zimbabwe have several reasons to remain competitive despite losing the first ODI.

Their bowling attack created genuine problems for Australia. Newman Nyamhuri’s 5/62 was the standout performance, while Brad Evans and Sikandar Raza also contributed wickets. The hosts repeatedly interrupted Australia’s partnerships and prevented the visitors from turning 294 into a much larger total.

The bigger issue was the chase.

Zimbabwe lost Ben Curran early and were soon 46/3. Brendan Taylor also departed cheaply before Ervine and Raza rebuilt the innings. Their 98-run partnership temporarily changed the momentum, but once both experienced batters were dismissed, Zimbabwe fell from 181/6 to 235 all out.

Powerplay

Zimbabwe need a substantially better start. Losing three wickets inside the first nine overs made the chase unnecessarily difficult.

Brian Bennett and Ben Curran will be important at the top, but Australia’s pace attack will test them with movement and hard lengths. A stable opening partnership would reduce pressure on Ervine and Raza.

Middle Overs

This is the most important batting phase for Zimbabwe.

Ervine and Raza showed in the first ODI that they can build a substantial partnership, but Zimbabwe need one or two additional batters to stay involved after that partnership ends.

Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans and other middle-order options will need to rotate the strike effectively rather than allowing Australia’s spinners to build pressure.

Death Overs

Zimbabwe’s death batting was not strong enough in the opening ODI because too many wickets had already fallen. If they can preserve six or seven wickets into the final 10 overs, the equation changes considerably.

With the ball, Nyamhuri is now a major tactical weapon. His left-arm pace can challenge Australia’s right-hand-heavy middle order, while Blessing Muzarabani’s height provides bounce and a different angle.

Zimbabwe also have Raza and Masakadza available for spin through the middle overs. The challenge will be maintaining pressure without allowing Australia to rebuild comfortably.

The hosts also have several experienced players in the squad. Raza is captaining the side in place of injured Richard Ngarava, while Brendan Taylor has returned to the ODI setup and is assisting with wicketkeeping because of Clive Madande’s injury.

Zimbabwe need three things to change from the first ODI: fewer early batting wickets, greater support for Ervine and Raza, and more sustained pressure after taking Australia’s first four wickets.

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Squad & Team News

Australia Squad

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa.

Cameron Green missed the first ODI because of shoulder soreness, while Josh Hazlewood was rested/managed for the opener. Australia have several pace options available, so the final combination will depend on workload and fitness decisions.

Zimbabwe Squad

Sikandar Raza (c), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.

Richard Ngarava is unavailable because of a lower-back problem and Sikandar Raza is captaining Zimbabwe. Tanaka Chivanga is also unavailable with an Achilles injury. Clive Madande’s injury has resulted in Brendan Taylor assisting with wicketkeeping duties.

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Probable Playing XI

Australia Probable XI	Zimbabwe Probable XI
Mitchell Marsh (c)	Brian Bennett
Travis Head	Ben Curran
Cooper Connolly	Innocent Kaia
Josh Inglis (wk)	Brendan Taylor (wk)
Alex Carey	Craig Ervine
Matthew Renshaw	Sikandar Raza (c)
Oliver Peake	Wessly Madhevere
Xavier Bartlett	Brad Evans
Nathan Ellis	Wellington Masakadza
Adam Zampa	Newman Nyamhuri
Spencer Johnson	Blessing Muzarabani

The projected XIs largely follow the combinations used in the first ODI. Australia could make changes because of workload management or player fitness, particularly around Green and Hazlewood.

Probable XIs are subject to official team announcements and the toss.

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AUS vs ZIM 2nd ODI Fantasy / Dream11 Prediction

Role	Fantasy Picks
Wicketkeeper	Josh Inglis, Brendan Taylor
Batters	Matt Renshaw, Craig Ervine, Travis Head
All-rounders	Mitchell Marsh, Sikandar Raza, Cooper Connolly
Bowlers	Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani

Captain Options

1. Matt Renshaw — Scored 109 in the first ODI and has demonstrated the ability to bat through the innings.
2. Nathan Ellis — Took 5/31 in the opener and has a major wicket-taking role.

Vice-Captain Options

1. Sikandar Raza — Contributes with both bat and ball and scored 57 in the first ODI.
2. Mitchell Marsh — Offers batting and potential bowling involvement.

Players to Avoid

1. Travis Head — His recent ODI returns have been inconsistent and he scored only 4 in the first match.
2. Wellington Masakadza — His fantasy ceiling is more dependent on the exact conditions and workload.

Fantasy suggestions are for informational purposes only and are not guaranteed to produce points or returns.

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Head-to-Head — Last 5 ODI Meetings

After the first ODI on September 15, Australia and Zimbabwe have played 34 men’s ODIs, with Australia winning 30, Zimbabwe winning 3 and one ending without a result.

Statistic	Result
Total ODI Matches	34
Australia Wins	30
Zimbabwe Wins	3
Ties	0
No Results	1

Last 5 Head-to-Head ODIs

Date	Venue	Winner	Result/Margin
15 Sep 2026	Harare	Australia	Won by 59 runs
3 Sep 2022	Townsville	Zimbabwe	Won by 3 wickets
31 Aug 2022	Townsville	Australia	Won by 8 wickets
28 Aug 2022	Townsville	Australia	Won by 5 wickets
31 Aug 2014	Harare	Zimbabwe	Won by 3 wickets

Australia have won three of the last five meetings, while Zimbabwe have won two. The broader record strongly favours Australia, but the recent H2H contains evidence that Zimbabwe can defeat them in the right circumstances.

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Pitch Report

The Harare surface offered a relatively good scoring environment in the first ODI, with Australia reaching 294/8. At the same time, Zimbabwe’s seamers were able to generate enough assistance to keep taking wickets throughout the innings.

The first ODI also showed that the pitch can reward disciplined pace bowling. Nyamhuri’s five-wicket haul demonstrated the value of maintaining a consistent line and length rather than relying only on variations.

For the second ODI, the expectation is for reasonable batting conditions once the initial phase settles. The new ball could offer some movement, while the surface should remain suitable for stroke-making through the middle overs.

Spin is likely to become more relevant as the innings progresses. Raza and Masakadza can therefore play an important role if Zimbabwe bowl second, while Zampa remains Australia’s main middle-over wicket-taking option.

A first-innings total around the mid-250s to high-270s should generally provide a competitive platform, with 290-plus becoming particularly valuable if the pitch behaves similarly to the opening ODI.

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Weather Report

Current forecasts indicate generally clear and dry conditions in Harare on September 18. Forecast sources place the temperature around 23°C at the 9:00 AM local start and close to 29°C during the afternoon, with very low rain probability.

Weather Factor	Forecast
Temperature	Around 23°C at start, rising towards 28–29°C
Humidity	Relatively low during the match
Rain Chance	Very low
Wind	Around 18–25 km/h, depending on forecast
Conditions	Sunny/clear to lightly hazy

DLS/Interruption Risk: Low

Rain is not currently expected to be a major factor. The relatively dry conditions should reduce the possibility of a DLS-affected match.

The stronger consideration could be the wind rather than rain. A steady breeze may assist bowlers with swing or movement early, while the low humidity should make dew less significant.

Weather therefore does not materially alter the overall prediction at present.

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Broadcast Details

The series is being broadcast in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket. For viewers in India, current match coverage information lists FanCode as the streaming platform, with no television channel carrying the series in India at the time of the first ODI.

The second ODI starts at 9:30 AM local time in Harare, which is 1:00 PM IST.

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Toss Prediction & Strategy

If Australia wins the toss

Australia are likely to consider batting first because their batting depth gives them the ability to put scoreboard pressure on Zimbabwe. The first ODI also demonstrated that 290-plus is achievable at this venue.

However, if the surface looks greener or offers noticeable early movement, bowling first could also be attractive.

If Zimbabwe wins the toss

Zimbabwe could prefer bowling first if early movement is visible. Their first-innings bowling performance was one of the strongest aspects of the opening match, with Nyamhuri taking five wickets.

Chasing also has historical support at Harare, where the venue has produced more wins for teams batting second than batting first.

Toss Prediction

Predicted toss winner: Australia

This is only a toss prediction rather than a match prediction. If Australia win the toss, batting first would be a reasonable strategy, particularly if the pitch appears similar to the opening ODI.

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ODI Score Prediction

Scenario	Projected Score
Australia batting first	265–285
Zimbabwe batting first	240–265

Projected Competitive Score

A score around 270–280 should represent a strong first-innings benchmark under the current conditions.

Australia reached 294 in the first ODI, but Zimbabwe’s bowling created enough pressure to prevent an even larger total. Zimbabwe’s own 235 was competitive for portions of the chase but ultimately below the required level.

If Chasing

Harare has historically offered reasonable chasing conditions, and the highest successful ODI chase at the venue is 328/3. However, a target above 280 should still demand sustained batting quality.

For Zimbabwe, chasing 275-plus would require significantly better top-order stability than in the first ODI. Australia, with greater batting depth and recent experience in the conditions, would be better equipped to handle a sizeable target.

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Winning Chances

Outcome	Probability
Australia Win	68%
Zimbabwe Win	32%

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Why the Win Percentage?

Factor	Australia	Zimbabwe	Advantage
Top-order batting	Stronger overall depth	Capable but inconsistent	Australia
Middle-order batting	Greater depth	Relies heavily on senior players	Australia
Finishing	More options	Less proven	Australia
Powerplay batting	Aggressive but vulnerable	Needs improvement	Australia
Middle-over batting	Renshaw/Connolly/Carey provide depth	Raza/Ervine important	Australia
Death batting	Stronger depth	Needs wickets preserved	Australia
New-ball bowling	Ellis/Bartlett/Johnson	Muzarabani/Nyamhuri/Evans	Even
Spin bowling	Zampa	Raza/Masakadza	Even
Death bowling	Ellis gives Australia a major option	Zimbabwe have useful pace	Australia
All-round depth	Marsh/Connolly/Renshaw options	Raza/Madhevere/Evans	Australia
Recent ODI form	2 wins, 3 losses	2 wins, 3 losses	Even
Venue suitability	Strong record in Harare	Home conditions	Zimbabwe
Squad availability	Greater depth	Key Ngarava absence	Australia
Head-to-head	30 wins from 34	3 wins from 34	Australia
Home advantage	—	Relevant	Zimbabwe

The main reason Australia are favoured is the combination of batting depth and bowling options rather than one individual statistic.

Renshaw’s century in the first ODI demonstrated that Australia can recover from a difficult middle phase, while Ellis’ five-wicket haul showed that their attack can convert pressure into wickets.

Zimbabwe’s strongest route is through their bowling. If Nyamhuri, Muzarabani and Evans can remove two or three Australian top-order batters early, the probability gap narrows considerably.

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Key ODI Player Matchups

Matchup	Why It Matters
Travis Head vs Blessing Muzarabani	Head’s aggressive approach can change the powerplay, while Muzarabani’s height and pace provide a difficult opening challenge.
Matt Renshaw vs Sikandar Raza	Raza can be used to disrupt Australia’s middle-over rhythm, while Renshaw is currently Australia’s most proven run-maker in this series.
Nathan Ellis vs Sikandar Raza	Raza is central to Zimbabwe’s batting, while Ellis has already shown the ability to remove key batters and finish an innings.

These battles are important because they involve players who can change the game’s momentum rather than simply accumulate statistics.

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Key Batting & Bowling Targets

Expected Top Batter

Matt Renshaw — His 109 in the first ODI showed that he can absorb pressure and then accelerate. Zimbabwe will need a specific plan for him.

Expected Top Bowler

Nathan Ellis — His 5/31 makes him the most obvious wicket-taking threat entering the second ODI.

Potential X-Factor

Newman Nyamhuri — His five-wicket haul gives Zimbabwe a genuine attacking option against Australia’s middle order.

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