Australian cricket team clinched another smashing victory in the ongoing T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe after beating the hosts Zimbabwe in the record-breaking third game of the series at Harare on Tuesday. Australia put a total of 229/2 in 20 overs while Zimbabwe was restricted to just 129/9 (20 overs).

Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza decided to field first after winning the toss. Australian openers Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short played a long innings as they put a record-breaking 223-run partnership for the opening wicket before losing their wickets in the last over of the innings.

Skipper Finch played the major role in that innings as he played a record-breaking T20I knock. Facing 76 deliveries, Finch scored 172 runs with the help of 16 fours and 10 sixes.

Meanwhile, Short scored only 46 runs off 42 balls as he hit 3 fours and 2 sixes. Pacer Blessing Muzarabani (2/38) was the only wicket-taker for Zimbabwe as he was able to dismiss both the openers in the very last over of that innings.

In reply, Zimbabwe only managed to score 129/9 where the opener Solomon Mire (28) was the only batsman to reach the 20-run mark.

Australian pacer Andrew Tye (3/12) picked up three wickets while the left-arm spinner Ashton Agar (2/16) bagged two wickets. Also, Billy Stanlake (1/39), Jhye Richardson (1/29), Glenn Maxwell (1/7) and Marcus Stoinis (1/11) got one wicket each.

Australia won the game by 100 runs while the skipper Aaron Finch undoubtedly won the Player of the Match award.

Brief Scores: Australia – 229/2 in 20 overs (Aaron Finch 172, D’Arcy Short 46; Blessing Muzarabani 2/38)

Zimbabwe – 129/9 in 20 overs (Solomon Mire 28, Peter Moor 19; Andrew Tye 3/12)

Result – Australia won by 100 runs

Important stats highlights of the match:

• Australian opening batsmen Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short put a brilliant 223-run partnership for the opening wicket. It is the highest ever T20I partnership for any wicket as the previous highest was 171* between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson (New Zealand) for the opening wicket against Pakistan at Hamilton on January 17, 2016.
• Also, it was the second highest partnership for any wicket in T20 cricket history. The highest one is 229 between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore) for the second wicket against Gujarat Lions at Bengaluru on May 14, 2016.
• Australian skipper Aaron Finch scored 172 runs which is the highest T20I knock. The previous record holder was also Aaron Finch with 156 runs against England at Southampton on August 29, 2013.
• Also, Finch’s 172-run knock was the second highest individual knock in T20 cricket history. The record is 175* by Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore) against Pune Warriors at Bengaluru on April 23, 2013.
• Australian captain Aaron Finch becomes the first Australian T20I batsman, third T20I captain and 11^th overall T20I batsman to be dismissed through the hit-wicket.
• Australia scored 229/2 in this game which was their fourth highest T20I total.
• Also, Australia’s 229/2 is the highest T20I total for any team against Zimbabwe. The previous record was 215/6 (20 overs) by Afghanistan at Sharjah on January 10, 2016.
• Australia won this game by 100 runs and it is their largest T20I victory (by runs). Their previous record was winning by 95 runs against South Africa at Brisbane on January 9, 2006.
• Also, it was the largest T20I defeat (by runs) for Zimbabwe. The previous record was losing by 85 runs against Pakistan at Harare on September 16, 2011.