Zimbabwe v Australia - CricInfo Report

As expected on current form, Australia beat Zimbabwe in the first of three one-day internationals, by 83 runs. A powerful batting performance by the tourists was challenged only by Neil Johnson of Zimbabwe, who scored another century to add to that in the World Cup final.

Zimbabwe went into this match with a seriously weakened bowling line-up - to call it an 'attack' would perhaps be an exaggeration. Their three pace bowlers, David Mutendera, Gary Brent and Andy Blignaut, went into the match with 8 one-day international appearances between them and only 3 wickets.

Heath Streak, for so long the backbone of the attack, was unfit with a strained knee after his exertions in the Harare Test; John Rennie split the webbing in his hand; Bryan Strang is considered too slow and predictable for one-day matches, while Henry Olonga is considered too fast and unpredictable. Had Olonga shown any sort of form in Harare, though, he might have been included as the only bowler with the ability to cut through the opposition.

On winning the toss Alistair Campbell decided to bat, probably reluctant to put undue pressure on his batsmen by expecting them to build a big total with few resources to defend it. A boundary came in each of the first three overs, two to Mark Waugh and one to Adam Gilchrist. In the fifth over the openers decided the time was ripe to get the ones and twos ticking over, and the score began to mount steadily. Australia reached 39 in the seventh over when Mutendera took his first wicket in his third one-day international, when Gilchrist slashed a short ball wide of Grant Flower at backward point, only for the fielder to dive to his left and hold a brilliant low catch.

Ricky Ponting came in and looked in good form from the start. The fifty came up with the last ball of the ninth over. Ponting kept the score moving and hit Blignaut for two fours in an over, driving him through the covers and then flicking him high over midwicket. Waugh too looked impressive, and played a stroke of sheer brilliance as he stepped down the pitch to Mutendera and smashed him over his head for a one-bounce four; two balls later he drove to the extra-cover boundary, Alistair Campbell misfielding, and then turned him past midwicket for another. With Australia taking full control, the score after 15 overs was 85 for one (Waugh 45, Ponting 19).

The two batsmen, who already hold the record second-wicket partnership of 219 for their country against Zimbabwe in one-day internationals, made merry with the toothless Zimbabwean bowling. As in the Test, though, limited bowling resources were made to look worse due to dropped catches. Immediately after reaching his fifty, Ponting drove a catch to midwicket and Grant Flower dropped a chance above his head -- hard, but less difficult than the one he had taken earlier. Off the very next ball he faced Ponting gave another chance to Gavin Rennie at long leg, the ball popping out of his hands over the boundary for six.

Thus encouraged, the batsmen continued to plunder the bowling almost at will. Waugh, having become the first Australian to pass 500 one-day international runs against Zimbabwe, reached his second century against them in successive matches with a glided single to deep midwicket. Finally Ponting fell, drawn forward by Andrew Whittall, dragging his toe over the line to be smartly stumped for 67 off 90 balls. Australia were now 198 for two, after a partnership of 159.

This seemed to inspire the Zimbabwean fielders. Two quick singles both required the third umpire to adjudicate after superb fielding, then Mark Waugh turned a ball past square leg and failed to beat a superb pick-up and throw from Rennie as he attempted a second run. This time the replay showed him out, for 106 off 96 balls; he hit 11 fours and 2 sixes, and the total was 201 for three.

Steve Waugh soon got the score moving again, but Zimbabwe's disease of dropsy continued as he hit a hard return catch to Andrew Whittall, which was put down. Probably thinking anything in the air was safe, Waugh proceeded to hit the next ball right down the throat of long-off, but he had chosen the wrong fielder in Neil Johnson, who held it safely to dismiss him for 14; Australia were 223 for four, and in the 40th over.

Damien Martyn hit out from the start, while Bevan on 14 enjoyed another life, dropped by Grant Flower in the gully. Flower used to be one of the world's finest all-round fielders, but he has been sadly inconsistent since the end of the last home season. Martyn took most of the limelight, with some powerful strokes, including a six over midwicket off Whittall and a heave over mid-on off Brent which brought up the fifty partnership.

Andy Flower again effected the breakthrough, standing up to the medium-pace of Brent and bringing off a brilliant leg-side stumping off a ball that was called a wide. He made 25, and Australia were 280 for five. Martyn continued to attack, and cut Blignaut for a fierce boundary; Andrew Symonds, trying to copy the stroke, hit a low catch straight to Grant Flower at backward point to be out for 1; Australia 292 for six.

Martyn ran to a dashing fifty off 34 balls, finishing with 55 and Tom Moody with 5 not out; Australia finished with 303 for six after their 50 overs.

The only remaining question, it appeared, was whether Zimbabwe could play well enough to lose with dignity. Neil Johnson was prepared to believe they could. He had a full drive at Glenn McGrath's first ball of the innings and found four runs through a thick edge past the slips, and continued to go for his shots for the rest of the over. For Grant Flower it was a different matter. From the first ball he faced, from Damien Fleming, he went on a rather half-hearted drive on the off side and edged a simple catch to the keeper. Zimbabwe were 7 for one.

Johnson continued to take on the Australian bowlers, hammering Fleming to the extra-cover boundary and off-driving McGrath for four. As usual, he lived dangerously, but while he was batting the match could never be dull. He hit Fleming spectacularly to the third-man boundary and then turned him wide of midwicket for three off the next ball.

Goodwin too was settling in well, especially adept at nudging or chopping the ball down to third man to keep the strike circulating. When Moody replaced McGrath Johnson him high over midwicket for four, and then hit Andrew Symonds' second ball back over his head to the sightscreen and his fourth to the long-leg boundary. Zimbabwe appear to have become rather too reliant on him, but the responsibility seems to rest lightly on his shoulders. He pulled Moody over deep square leg for six, although not too far from a marauding fielder, and then drove him straight down the ground for another four. The crowd, by now filled almost to capacity, came alive as he continued his onslaught.

Goodwin was keen to have a share in the action, but only hit Symonds right down the throat of Martyn at long leg. He scored 19, and Zimbabwe were 69 for two. Campbell's run of poor scores continued, as he slashed at Symonds and hit a high catch straight to Ponting at backward point. He scored 6, and Zimbabwe were 77 for three.

Johnson duly reached his fifty, scored of 52 balls, with a cantered single as Andy Flower settled in. He enjoyed some luck, getting a top edge to a sweep which flew over the keeper's head to the boundary. Then Shane Warne came on to bowl, and he and McGrath put a brake on the scoring, which naturally resulted in a rise in Zimbabwe's required run rate. Flower lost patience and concentration, coming down the pitch to Warne and getting stumped easily for 11. Zimbabwe were now 106 for four in the 25th over.

Johnson finally broke the shackles, hitting Warne high over extra cover for four, and runs began to come more freely again. McGrath suffered the indignity of being driven over his head for six. Then he got away with a cheeky reverse sweep that beat backward point for four, and a pull that just evaded long leg, dropping a metre inside the boundary. It was certainly a case of fortune favouring the brave.

Rennie also batted well until falling to another of Zimbabwe's foolish run-outs. Johnson cut Bevan to backward point; Rennie called for a very quick run but Johnson turned back and Rennie ran through to be run out as Steve Waugh threw to the bowler's end. Rennie scored 22, and Zimbabwe were 162 for five.

The crowd burst into spontaneous applause as Johnson, on 99, faced up to Warne for the 45th over. He pushed the ball out on the off side and Guy Whittall, eager to give him his century, backed up too far. A shy at the stumps at the bowler's end missed, and the batsmen ran through for two as the crowd erupted. Zimbabwe were 172 for five, and Johnson's century had come off 114 balls.

Johnson celebrated his hundred with a swing to fine leg for four off Fleming, but soon lost Whittall, who pushed half-forward to Fleming, to be struck on the foot and given out lbw for 2, making the score now 180 for six. Andy Blignaut, fresh from a series of high club scores and 129 from the Zimbabwe Board XI match against Northwest Gauteng, did not look too happy at this higher level at first, but then decided to take his life in his hands. Lashing out at Symonds, he hit him for two successive sixes over long-on. Johnson flicked Fleming for a one-bounce four over fine leg to bring up the 200, but then played one stroke too many. An attempted six over long-off fell into the safe hands of Ponting on the boundary and he was out for 110, off 124 balls, with 13 fours and 2 sixes. Zimbabwe were now 201 for seven in the 39th over.

Blignaut continued to show his improved confidence at this level by cutting Symonds for four and then slogging him for six over midwicket. Next ball, though, he attempted another six but only sent up a gigantic skyer to long-off, where it was comfortably held by Mark Waugh. He had scored 27 off 15 balls, and Zimbabwe were 212 for eight.

The innings folded quietly after that. Andrew Whittall (2) swung at Warne, but Mark Waugh at slip made a fierce head-high chance into an easy catch. Zimbabwe were now 220 for nine, and without further addition Gary Brent (5) edged a catch straight to Mark Waugh at slip. Zimbabwe were all out for 220 in 43.4 overs, David Mutendera not out without scoring. Australia won by 83 runs, with Zimbabwe reclaiming some honour with good performances by Neil Johnson and the middle order.