Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza supported Wessly Madhevere after the bowler’s difficult final over in the third ODI against Australia at Harare Sports Club on September 20, 2026. Australia won by one wicket, with just one ball remaining, after chasing down Zimbabwe’s total of 271 for 8. The match boiled down to the final over, as Nathan Ellis batted with incredible intensity to guide his team home.
Madhevere delivered the final over of Australia’s pursuit of 272 in Harare just four balls after dropping Nathan Ellis, an error that would have concluded the match, as Australia were already nine wickets down at that stage. Australia then required nine runs to win in the final over, and Ellis hit a shot over midwicket to clinch the match on the second-to-last ball of their chase.
Cricinfo quotes Raza saying, “He said he’s good to bowl, and that’s all I needed… I’ll back him again and again and again until he gets it right. We don’t leave a man when he’s down. These are the games, these are the moments you want to be part of to win it for the team…. We had plenty of chances to close the game before [the final over]; unfortunately, we didn’t take those.”
Madhevere also dropped Josh Inglis on 48, despite a leaping effort. Inglis scored 103 runs off 102 balls. Madhevere had bowled five overs before his final one, taking 1 for 25 with the ball in hand. In contrast, Graeme Cremer, making his first ODI appearance since 2018, had taken 2 for 53 and still had one over remaining at the end of the match.
Raza’s choice to hand Madhevere the final over showed his strategic thinking and confidence in the bowler. The Zimbabwe captain said that multiple factors worked in Madhevere’s favour in that situation. Ellis was on strike, and Zimbabwe’s off-spinner Graeme Cremer was bowling into the wind and to the longer side of the groundmaking Madhevere a more suitable choice for the last six balls.
Raza added, “I think because Ellis was [on strike] and our off-spinner [was bowling] into the wind and to the longer side as well, there was a lot going for Wessly.”
In February of this year, Zimbabwe had a dream run at the T20 World Cup, defeating Australia and advancing to the Super Eight stage. Since then, they have suffered a 2-1 loss in a T20I series against Bangladesh, lost 3-0 to India, and narrowly avoided elimination from their tri-series against Namibia and South Africa, barely advancing after winning their opening match against Namibia on the final ball. They also lost all three matches in the series against South Africa, and then fell to Australia 3-0 in this series.
