Matt Renshaw achieved his inaugural One Day International (ODI) century during Australia’s 59-run victory over Zimbabwe.

Renshaw expressed that he felt at ease batting in the number six position.

The Australian team is set to play Zimbabwe in their second ODI match on Friday.

Reflecting on his performance, Renshaw acknowledged that he might not have reached this milestone had he batted as an opener against Zimbabwe.

In the first ODI held in Harare, Renshaw delivered an impressive innings, scoring 109 runs off 94 balls, contributing significantly to his team’s win.

This century marks Renshaw’s first for Australia in any format since his sole Test century in 2017, where he opened the batting against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

After a three-year hiatus, he recently returned to the Test format, once again opening for Australia in a convincing win over Bangladesh in Mackay last month.

However, he downplayed the pressure associated with his batting position in the nine ODIs he played prior to the match in Harare.

Renshaw noted that the reduced pressure of batting lower down the order was beneficial in helping him achieve his century. “When I bat higher up the order, I tend to get a bit anxious,” he remarked.

He further explained, “When I come in during the middle overs, my focus is on finding gaps and hitting where the fielders aren’t positioned. With spin being a significant aspect during this phase, I consider it to be one of my strengths. Understanding my role simplified things for me.”

Renshaw has also been included in Australia’s Test squad for the upcoming series against South Africa.

The matches are scheduled to take place in Durban from October 9-13, Gqeberha from October 18-22, and Cape Town from October 27-31.

Australia’s next ODI encounter with Zimbabwe is set for Friday in Harare.