Defending champion Australia breezed in and out of Zimbabwe with a seven wicket victory on Monday and flew back to South Africa with four points and the only unbeaten record in the competition.
But neither the victory, nor the Bulawayo atmosphere they found themselves in was as comfortable as they might have thought. Zimbabwe scored 246-9, the highest to be achieved against Australia so far in the tournament. Australia passed that with seven wickets and with 15 balls to spare before flying straight out to Johannesburg.
Ricky Ponting’s men arrived in Zimbabwe’s second city and later at the Queens Sports Club ground with a heavy escort of helicopters, motorcycle outriders and armed police. The heavy security was because England’s game in Harare had to be called off over threats to disrupt it. England refused to go and Zimbabwe was
handed the points.
The Australians decided to travel to Bulawayo and arrived the day before the game amid tight security. They left in the same manner, but also with four more World Cup points to stay at the head of Group B.
”We put it out of our minds and did not even discuss it in recent days” Ponting said of the security. ”But we are looking forward to a good night’s sleep in Potchefstoom (the team base in South Africa).”
It was Zimbabwe’s best one-day performance for months. But it wasn’t good enough to unsettle the relentless Australians. ”Playing teams like Australia does bring the best out of us,” said Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak whose team must now win its last two games to squeeze into the Super Six.
”Now we really do have to beat both Holland and Pakistan to have any chance of going through.”
After winning the toss and batting first, Zimbabwe lost two quick wickets before the Flower brothers Andy and Grant came together in an 84 runs partnership. They were dismissed within a few minutes of each other, Andy making 62 in 91 balls with eight boundaries that indicated a return to form and Grant 37 before he was run out
following a rare misunderstanding between them. It was Andy’s 57th half century in one-day internationals.
Australia spinner Brad Hogg turned the game back in Australia’s favour by taking two wickets with successive balls, his victims being Dion Ebrahim and Douglas Marillier. Tatenda Taibu prevented a hat-trick.
But Andy Blignaut smashed 54 runs in only 28 balls before being caught and bowled by Brett Lee off a full-bloodied drive. Two towering sixes and eight fours signified Zimbabwe’s fighting spirit.
Heath Streak contributed 28 off 19 balls at the end and the 247 runs required by Australia made a reasonably tough target for anyone other than the Aussies.
Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden put on 89 for the first wicket before the latter was neatly caught by Grant Flower off Douglas Hondo for 34.
Zimbabwe saw a glimmer of light when Gilchrist followed, caught in the deep by substitute Sean Ervine. Gilchrist made 61, his 28th half century, and then Ricky Ponting gave a catch back to Brian Murphy after making 38.
But Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann both got half centuries, 50 and 56 respectively, to see the cup favorites home. The last time Zimbabwe beat Australia was in 1983, the first time they met in the World Cup.
Andy Flower, whose protest with Henry Olonga against his country’s ”death of democracy,” marked by the wearing of black armbands and then black wristbands, did not take the field when Australia batted.
Team manager Babu Meman told the Associated Press he had a groin strain. He was wearing white wrist bands but would not talk about it.
Flower and Olonga had been under pressure to abandon their stance in separate meetings with Zimbabwe cricket Union officials on Saturday but Flower indicated afterwards he would not change his mind. – Sapa-AP