Matt Renshaw has reached his highest ODI score, smashing 65 runs off 61 balls against Zimbabwe to surpass his previous best of 61 and put the visitors in a strong position.
Elsewhere, Australian ODI World Cup hopeful Cooper Connolly survived two near-dismissals following the drinks break before eventually being bowled just after raising his half-century.
It comes as Aussie gun Josh Inglis was dismissed earlier after a stellar catch from wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor.
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Australia have, remarkably, lost their last two international matches against Zimbabwe – a stunning upset at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, and a three-wicket loss in an ODI in September 2022.
It means the tourists have more to do than just tick a box in Harare ahead of three ODIs and three Tests against South Africa: they’ll be out for revenge as well.
“They’ve had the wood over us more recently at the T20 World Cup,” fast bowler Nathan Ellis said.
“So (we are) excited to not only try and get a little bit of redemption but also start building towards the one-day World Cup (co-hosted by Zimbabwe) in a year or so.
“There are no easy beats. I think people can have that perception at times, but it doesn’t feel that way in our change room.”
Marsh made four changes from the team that faced Bangladesh in Australia’s most recent ODI in June.
Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Ben Dwarhuis and Riley Meredith have been replaced by Head, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson and Alex Carey.
Match details: Zimbabwe vs Australia from 5:30pm AEST at Harare Sports Club, Harare
Watch it live: On Fox Cricket (channel 501), and streaming on Kayo, from 5pm (AEST)
Teams:
Australia: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Matthew Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Craig Ervine, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani.