David Warner came within just six runs of ending his century drought as Australia were rolled for 141 against Zimbabwe in the third Dettol ODI in Townsville.
Ryan Burl took a career-best 5-10 to give the visitors the upper hand as Warner hit 94 off 96 balls to add a degree of respectability to the total.
Zimbabwe won the toss and put Australia in to bat for the first time this series, nabbing three crucial wickets inside the first 10 overs.
Left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava got skipper Aaron Finch for the third time in three ODIs.
From the other end, Victor Nyauchi trapped Steve Smith leg before for one, the Australian unable to get the call reversed in a review.
Alex Carey was next to fall, caught behind after an erratic shot that left Australia 3-31 off nine overs.
Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green swiftly followed as Warner kept the scoreboard ticking from the other end.
Glenn Maxwell did some damage but he was the first to fall to legspinner Burl, who enticed him to hit in the air.
Warner’s pull shot shortly after was gathered on the boundary to deprive him of a much needed century.
He hit 14 fours and two sixers at a strike rate of 97.9.
It’s now been 54 innings across all formats since Warner’s last century with Saturday’s knock the fourth time he’s been dismissed in the 90s.
Burl was the standout spinner for Zimbabwe with his five-wicket haul in just three overs.
Nyauchi was precise and efficient for the seamers with just 15 coming from his six overs.
Australia 141 31 overs David Warner 94 Ryan Burl 5/10
Zimbabwe 142/7 39 overs Regis Chakabva 37* Josh Hazelwood 3/30
Aaron Finch: Zimbabwe were great with the ball, had us in trouble. You never take things for granted because in international cricket, you can get beaten on any given day. They showed it today. We gave ourselves a half-decent chance with the ball but it wasn’t to be. Hazlewood and Starc are two of the best in the world, for a long time across formats. For a long period of time. And that’s some achievement for fast bowlers these days. Warner also keeps doing this for a long time.
Regis Chakabva: Coming into the last game, the way we started off in the morning was great to see. Boys show a lot of fight and to get Australia to that sort of score shows how good we were. We head, a bit of fitness works to be done, training and then off to the T20 World Cup.
Adam Zampa P.O.S: Feels good. There are times when there is a bit of doubt on preparation. Felt good coming in from The Hundred. It was all about getting some game time. The more you do, the better it feels. Ball came out nicely all series.
Ryan Burl P.O.T.M: It’s massively important (this win for Zimbabwe). Wasn’t able to get the team across the line but will take those runs. Will take this win and the confidence from here. To come back here later for the World Cup over here, it’ll give us lot of confidence.
