Ponting and Martyn lead Australia's stroll to victory

Australia 207 for 3 (Ponting 91, Martyn 74*) beat Zimbabwe 205 for 9 (Taylor 59, Taibu 57) by seven wickets
Scorecard

Although they probably had to work harder than they expected, in the end Australia cantered to victory over Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first match of this rearranged one-day series at the Harare Sports Club. A third-wicket partnership of 144 between the captain, Ricky Ponting, and Damien Martyn ensured that the Aussies clinched a clinical victory with more than ten overs to spare.

Tatenda Taibu won the toss and bravely decided to take first strike on an excellent batting pitch. A solid fifty from the young opener Brendan Taylor laid the foundation of their innings, while a more dashing fifty from Taibu himself took his team past 200.

Tight Australian bowling restricted Zimbabwe from the start, with just 20 runs coming from the first ten overs. Only one wicket fell, however, that of Stuart Matsikenyeri for 8, flashing at Jason Gillespie outside off and caught behind. Gillespie bowled a tight line and made the ball lift sharply, and returned an opening spell of 7-4-7-1.

The first boundary came as late as the eighth over, when Vusi Sibanda, who had been in woeful form against Sri Lanka, drove Gillespie through the covers for four. Australia missed several chances in the field, with Michael Clarke the culprit twice, dropping hard chances at third slip and gully, including Taylor when 6. Three run-out chances also went begging.

Taylor survived the early onslaught, but was never able to bat freely. Even so, his 59 off 101 balls was a fine effort from a 19-year-old - but he may find he has less opportunity for his favoured front-foot drives through the off side now the Aussies have had a good look at him.

Glenn McGrath, on his return to international action after an ankle operation, conceded 11 runs in the first over of his second spell, but he finally broke through with a yorker, removing Sibanda for 18, which made it 46 for 2 in the 20th over.

Dion Ebrahim tried a few risky shots, but made only 8 from 16 balls before he was bowled by a full-length ball from Brad Williams. Zimbabwe were then 64 for 3 in the 23rd over - they had wickets in hand, but were well short of a satisfactory run rate. But Taibu soon picked up the rate, quietly at first, until he lofted Andrew Symonds powerfully for four over mid-on. Taylor also tried to score more quickly, but when he had reached 59 he stepped back to drive Darren Lehmann through the off side, only to be well caught low down by a tumbling Ponting (125 for 4).

Symonds turned from his usual offbreaks to medium-pace, and Taibu pulled him superbly over square leg for six. Mark Vermeulen was looking for runs from the start, and after 40 overs Zimbabwe had reached 141 for 4. For a while they dominated, Vermeulen lofting Symonds for another six over long-on, and Taibu swinging him to long leg to reach his fifty.

Then Australia broke through. First Vermeulen (20 from 15 balls) tried another big hit, off Michael Kasprowicz, and skyed it over the covers for Ponting to take a fine catch running back. Symonds then missed a hard chance at cover from Alester Maregwede (1), off Gillespie, but Kasprowicz struck when Taibu drove another catch to Ponting in the covers and was out for 57. Mluleki Nkala ran himself out first ball, setting off for a unilateral single.

That left Zimbabwe at 184 for 7 in the 46th over, with four wickets having tumbled for 16. The lower order scrambled some quick runs, with Tinashe Panyangara again batting confidently for an unbeaten 14. But the eventual total of 205 was never likely to test the Australians, however uninspired they might have felt entering this match.

Australia had an early shock on their way to the target, losing Matthew Hayden to the first ball he faced. Panyangara pitched a little short and Hayden tried to pull without gauging the pace of the pitch. The ball came off the splice and lobbed towards square leg, where Tawanda Mupariwa ran in to complete the catch. Australia were one run - a wide - for one wicket.

Adam Gilchrist started his innings with uncharacteristic caution, but then began to open out. He was just looking dangerous, with 26 from 49 balls, when he pulled Douglas Hondo fiercely to midwicket, only for Sibanda to pluck a superb catch off his bootlaces.

He was replaced by Martyn, who batted capably in the company of the confident Ponting. Australia's captain, who dominated almost from the start, pulled well, a stroke his partners found difficult to time, and ran to his half-century from 61 balls. Martyn took 69 balls to reach his, and both then batted with increasing freedom and power. There was a bit of manipulation at the end in an effort to give Ponting his century, but he fell for 91 to a brilliant diving catch by Sibanda at long-on. It was still enough to win him the Man of the Match award.