Opener Ken Eastwood got to play only one Test for Australia - under unusual circumstances - but he continues his association with the game even as he nears 80

The two oldest men in the Ireland squad delivered when it mattered. The victory over Zimbabwe would not have happened without them. But the most encouraging thing was the maturity shown by one of their youngest men.

In the end, Zimbabwe's tournament - and this match - came down to a matter of millimetres with Sean Williams caught right on the boundary

Plays of the day from the Group B game between Ireland and Zimbabwe in Hobart

Zimbabwe and Ireland are 10th and 11th in the ODI rankings but they have not played each other that often. Their clash in Hobart will have significant impact on their World Cup campaigns

Ireland will know that victory against Zimbabwe would give them a good chance of progressing to the knockouts; Zimbabwe's chances are much slimmer even if they win this encounter, but that will not stop them from trying

In the first 44 years of one-day international cricket, only five Australians claimed six or more wickets in an innings: Gary Gilmour, Ken MacLeay, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson

Despite swing bowling being New Zealand's primary weapon, Michael Clarke indicated after the defeat to Brendon McCullum's side that Australia had not prepared thoroughly for the moving ball

For the first time since making their Test debuts, the two hugely impressive swing bowlers squared off against each other. And what a convergence it was

Michael Clarke has conceded that Australia have focused too much on power hitting and not enough on negotiating the swinging ball during their preparation for this World Cup

Born in New Zealand but raised in Australia, Luke Ronchi returned to forge an international career in the country of his birth, after his attempt to do so in green and gold was short lived

Much is made of the trans-Tasman rivalry - and both Australia and New Zealand will go hard at each other in perhaps contrasting ways at Eden Park - but their players get on well with each other

The choice between Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood is an important decision, for the dimensions of the Eden Park ground allow little margin for error from the fast bowlers

A look at how New Zealand and Australia's elevens match up, player to player

At 36, Daniel Vettori seems like he's done it all in New Zealand cricket. He is the country's most-capped Test and ODI player of all time, has captained in all three formats, has played in World Cup semi-finals

Tim Southee and Trent Boult have earned the highest possible praise from the highest possible source in New Zealand cricket, with Richard Hadlee declaring them the country's finest ever new-ball combination

There have been no easy starts for Shane Watson in this World Cup. In his only innings of the tournament, he was out for a first-ball duck when he edged Stuart Broad behind at the MCG

David Warner has great respect for Brendon McCullum, but thinks the secret to countering his influence this Saturday will be to force him to have a "brain explosion"

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy will be dusted off and put up for grabs when New Zealand host Australia in their World Cup clash at Eden Park on Saturday

Bowlers often bang the ball in short in an effort to restrict batsmen's ability to hit down the ground, and Australia's opener Aaron Finch said their training over a wet week in Brisbane might help them in that regard