Cricket Australia

Australia has hammered Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the second Dettol ODI after a blistering new-ball spell from Mitch Starc at Riverway Stadium in Townsville.

In the chase, Richard Ngavara – who has been tasked with leading the Zimbabwe attack due to injuries to Tendai Chatara (shoulder) and Blessing Muzarabani (thigh) – gave his side some hope with the wickets of both David Warner and Aaron Finch in his second over. Cameron Green – who was Player of the Match in the first ODI - wasn't thrown the ball until the 23rd over, but struck with his third ball with a beautiful rising delivery that caught the edge of Tony Munyonga's (10 off 15) bat. Leg-spinner Zampa cleaned up the tail in the 28th over with the wickets of Luke Jongwe (bowled for one) and Brad Evans (lbw for two) to claim figures of 3-21 from 3.5 overs. It was an eerily similar to Raza's dismissal in the first ODI, when he couldn't control a pull shot from a Cameron Green short ball. Raza had scored only seven off his first 34 balls, before a four and a particularly glorious six over cover off Hazlewood in consecutive balls showed a glimpse of his talent. The first ball of that day that showed any sign of movement through the air brought about a wicket, as Starc's full in-swinger to Innocent Kaia (two off eight balls) snuck through the gap between bat and pad to hit the off stump.

AUS vs ZIM, 2nd ODI: Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa were in top form as Australia defeated Zimbabwe, in Townsville on Wednesday. | Cricket.

Also get updates on [Asia Cup 2022](https://www.hindustantimes.com/topic/asia-cup). The third and final match will be played in Townsville on Saturday. Zimbabwe's stated strategy of attacking the Australian bowlers unraveled when Sikandar Raza (17) and skipper Regis Chakabva (10) heaved needlessly, offering catching practice while the side was in a precarious position. Two overs after the innings break, seamer Richard Ngarava accounted for both of the Australia openers. When the left-hander departed, Zimbabwe were reeling at 83-7 but the end came swiftly as Zampa combined with seamer Cameron Green to send the lower-order packing. Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa collected three wickets apiece in Australia's eight-wicket demolition of Zimbabwe in the second one-day international on Wednesday, giving the home side an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Townsville.

Steve Smith hit another unbeaten knock while Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa both took three wickets each as Australia beat Zimbabwe in their second ODI.

Raza, along with Zimbabwe’s top order struggled to get any momentum at the crease as Australia’s quicks bowled at the stumps to leave the run rate hovering well under three an over. Mitchell Starc struck in the third over, clean bowling opener Innocent Kaia before he claimed two more scalps inside seven overs to leave the visitors 25-3. They were in the drivers seat early after bowling the visitors out inside 28 overs at Riverway Stadium on Wednesday morning.