Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak says his side will go into the limited overs match against Australia at Adelaide Oval with renewed confidence, despite hurting from a three-run loss to India.

Chasing India's 7-280, Zimbabwe made 6-277, clearly its best performance of its five matches in the tournament so far, but still not quite enough for its first win.

Its innings was built on a 202-run fourth-wicket stand between Stuart Carlisle (109) and Sean Ervine (100), the highest ever partnership by a Zimbabwean pair.

Streak said the team was bitterly disappointed to get so close to victory only to fail to finish the job, but he said there were some good signs heading into the Australia Day match.

"Obviously the guys are going to take a lot of positives out of the game," Streak said.

"The batting has been the big problem for us before and for two guys to get centuries is a fantastic effort, so hopefully we get another one of the top three to chip in.

"If we get off to a reasonable start where we're scoring at five and six an over, instead of three and four, in that first 15 overs, I think we'll get those big totals or chase down totals, so that's what we've really got to do."

He said the top three in the batting order was a problem area, and there would be consideration given to shuffling the order against Australia.

"The guys up at the top are struggling, (opener Vusi) Sibanda's come in and replaced (injured batsman Mark) Vermeulen, so that's always tough not having played much to come in the side again," he said.

"We may have to look at putting the form players a bit higher up and giving them a crack and hopefully they come off like Carlisle and Ervine did."

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