Australia vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI: Aaron Finch’s side pay TRIBUTE to Andrew Symonds with win, WATCH

Australia vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI: Aaron Finch's side defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets at Townsville.

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Cameron Green claimed his maiden five-wicket haul before David Warner and Steve Smith made light work of the run chase to set up a five-wicket victory for Australia over Zimbabwe in the first ODI of a three-match series, the African nation’s first one-day international series in the country since 2004. After Zimbabwe were sent in by Australian skipper Aaron Finch on Sunday, Green, took 5-33 as the tourists lost its last six wickets for 15 runs and was bowled out for 200 in the tropical north Queensland city of Townsville.

Australia then made light work of the run chase, as Warner scored 57 off 66 balls and Steve Smith played the anchor role of the innings to make an unbeaten 48 off 80 balls to set up the victory. Glenn Maxwell finished the match with consecutive sixes off Richard Ngarava in the 34th over.

Green, who had only one ODI wicket prior to Sunday’s match, removed Sikander Raza and stand-in skipper Regis Chakabva cheaply and then returned to clean up the tail as Zimbabwe’s hopes of posting a defendable total fell away in the final overs. “(We) just had a really clear gameplan, got a bit lucky at the end there, was just the right place at the right time trying to bowl back of a length on a wicket that was kind of going up and down,” Green said.

“I was luckily the one who got the rewards, but I think the rest of the team bowled really well and basically gave me the opportunity to be in that position.”

Australian cricket has paid tribute to the late Andrew Symonds at the first ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville with many of the things he loved in life. The former all-rounder died in a car accident in May.

Though Andrew Symonds longed to live a simple life, his cricket career was never straightforward. But few cricketers of his generation were as widely beloved as the man they called Roy. With his nickname, ‘Roy’, and test number emblazoned on the field, the Australian side, fans and Symonds’s loved ones remembered him in the city he settled down in after retirement from the game.

Symonds’s children, Will and Chloe, acted as drinks carriers during the match, after lining up with the teams prior to the start for a minute’s silence. At the innings break, the children, along with his wife Laura Vidmar, sister Louise, mother Barbara and dogs Woody and Buzz gathered at the pitch for the service.

WATCH Australian team pay tribute to Andrew Symonds HERE…

A tribute fitting for one man, and one man only. #AUSvZIM pic.twitter.com/zjVvE4yx25 — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 28, 2022

Wessly Madhevere scored a career-high 72 runs and opener Tadiwanashe Marumani added 45 as Zimbabwe started watchfully against Australia’s bowlers. But, when Adam Zampa got Madhevere caught and bowled and Chakabva was caught by Starc following a Green delivery, Zimbabwe's tail quickly collapsed chasing quick runs.

Australia lost Finch for 15 in the eighth over, before Warner and Smith combined for 65-run stand to have Australia’s chase looking comfortable. Alex Carey, Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis all fell cheaply to spinner Ryan Burl (3-60) to stall the hosts’ progress but Maxwell blasted 32 off nine deliveries to seal the victory for Australia in their first of 17 ODIs before next year’s World Cup in India.

Brief scores: Zimbabwe 200 in 47.3 ovs (Wessly Madhevere 72, Tadiwanashe Marumani 45, Regis Chakabva 31; Cameron Green 5/33, Adam Zampa 3/57) lost to Australia 201/5 in 33.3 ovs (David Warner 57, Steve Smith 47 n.o., Glenn Maxwell 32 n.o.)

(with PTI inputs)