Australia A too strong for Zimbabweans
In an ominous premonition of what lies in store in the VB Series later this month, Zimbabwe were overwhelmed by 119 runs at Adelaide, as Marcus North's century guided Australia A to an impregnable total of 327 for 6
Wisden Cricinfo staff
07-Jan-2004
Australia A 327 for 6 (North 115, Clarke 93) beat Zimbabweans 208 (Flower 67, Ervine 51) by 119 runs at Adelaide
Scorecard
Scorecard
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Marcus North celebrates his century © Getty Images 2004 |
In an ominous premonition of what lies in store in the VB Series later this month, Zimbabwe were overwhelmed by 119 runs at Adelaide, as Marcus North's century guided Australia A to an impregnable total of 327 for 6.
To make matters worse for Zimbabwe, they lost the services of Stuart Carlisle, who sustained a hand injury while fielding and was unable to bat. With Craig Wishart already laid up with a knee injury, it was the last thing that an inexperienced squad needed.
The toss was won by Michael Clarke, captaining Australia A for the day, although he is certain to feature in the senior squad, especially after lamping a whirlwind 93 from just 71 balls. His innings included 11 fours and a six, and put the icing on the cake after North, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson had carried Australia A to 177 for 2 by the 30th over.
North's innings hardly paled in comparison. He needed just 109 balls for his 115, and none of Zimbabwe's bowlers escaped his wrath - none of them went for less than five an over.
Mark Vermeulen and Vusi Sibanda launched an optimistic reply, but both fell in the space of two overs, whereupon Tatenda Taibu went for a duck. It was left to Grant Flower and Sean Ervine to patch the innings back together with a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which ended with an untimely run-out. There was little resistance thereafter, especially with Carlisle on the sidelines, and Australia A wrapped up victory with six overs to spare.