Australia edged hosts Zimbabwe by five wickets in a hard-fought dead rubber clash in the T20 tri-series at Harare on Friday.
After having restricted Zimbabwe to 151-9 in their 20 overs, the Aussies chased down the total with one ball to spare to complete their third win in four matches in the tournament.
Glenn Maxwell was the hero with the bat for Australia with the right-handed batsman slamming a 36-ball 58 in his side’s successful run chase. Maxwell’s crucial innings included five sixes and a boundary.
Earlier, Solomon Mire was in good touch with the bat once again for the hosts after his career-best 94 in Zimbabwe’s previous loss to Pakistan. The opener struck a 52-ball 63 on Friday to lead his side’s charge.
Mire struck his second successive fifty on Friday.
However, three wickets for seamer Andrew Tye and two-a-piece for Billy Stanlake and Jhy Richardson ensured that Zimbabwe could only muster 151-9 after electing to bat first.
Australia’s chase got off to the worst possible start with skipper Aaron Finch and Alex Carey dismissed inside the first five overs. Maxwell then took control of the chase with his counter-attacking innings but his dismissal at the hands of Blessing Muzarabani triggered a late collapse for the Aussies who lost three further wickets in as many overs following his departure.
It took an unbeaten cameo of 12 (7) from all-rounder Marcus Stoinis to get the Aussies over the finish line in the penultimate delivery of the match.
Australia and Pakistan will now lock horns in the final of the tri-series to be held on Sunday.