Australia and Zimbabwe will meet in the second ODI of their three-match series on 18 September 2026 at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. Australia currently lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening match by 59 runs. Zimbabwe will be able to take the series home and have the chance to pull it out on home soil.
The second ODI could be another test for Zimbabwe's batting, while Australia will try to continue the form they showed in the opening game.
Australia Start Series With a Win
Australia won the first ODI by 59 runs after posting 294/8 in their 50 overs. Matthew Renshaw was the star with the bat, scoring 109 runs from 94 balls for his first ODI century.
Nathan Ellis then produced an excellent bowling performance. He took 5/31, helping Australia bowl Zimbabwe out and secure a comfortable victory.
Australia will hope their key players can produce another strong performance in the second game.
Zimbabwe Need Better Batting
Zimbabwe showed some fight in the first ODI but failed to chase Australia's total. Newman Nyamhuri was one of the positive performers with an innings of 5/64 and his first ODI five-wicket haul.
But Zimbabwe's batting could not keep pace with the required run rate. Zimbabwe will have to rely on captain Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine to build on their partnership in the second match.
Zimbabwe playing at home could also help Zimbabwe, as the team is familiar with the conditions at Harare Sports Club.
Players to Watch
Matthew Renshaw will also be one of the players to watch after his century in the first ODI. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will also be expected to score runs at the top of the order.
Zimbabwe will look to Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani. Raza can influence the match with both bat and ball, while Muzarabani's pace could trouble Australia's batters.
Can Zimbabwe Level the Series?
Zimbabwe has shown that they can challenge Australia in recent meetings. Cricket Australia says Zimbabwe defeated Australia by three wickets in their most recent ODI match in Townsville. Zimbabwe also beat Australia in their most recent T20I meeting at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
But Australia will enter the second ODI after a convincing opening win. Zimbabwe will need the batsmen to perform better in the field and control the ball in order to level the series.
The match therefore gives Zimbabwe an opportunity to respond, while Australia will look to take a 2-0 lead.
When and Where to Watch
The 2nd ODI will be played on Friday 18 September 2026 at the Harare Sports Club, Harare. The first ball will be played at 9:30 am local time and 1:00 pm IST.
For Indian viewers, our current broadcast information shows FanCode as the streaming option. In Australia, the match will be available on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.
