Zimbabwe’s hopes of breaking through for their first win in the triangular international one-day cricket series were dashed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday when heavy rain forced play to be abandoned.
The Africans had yet to face a ball when rain started falling heavily after Australia had made 263 for nine off 50 overs. Both teams were awarded three points, taking Australia to 31 points and Zimbabwe to six.
They now head to Perth where Australia will play India on Sunday. Zimbabwe play their final game against India on Tuesday.
One-day specialist Michael Bevan had played a classic knock to lift Australia to 263, a tally which the Africans believed was achievable.
Bevan’s 56 was his 46th half-century in one-day matches. His style — to craft, rather than blast, an innings — was evident as he hit just three boundaries yet faced just 53 deliveries. His input came at a useful time for Australia, which was 139 for four in the 27th over when he came to the crease. Bevan was eventually run out in the 49th over from a brilliant throw from the deep from Andy Blignaut as the left-hander attempted two.
Zimbabwe bowled tightly and showed enthusiasm in the field, including three run-outs, as they set about the task of trying to earn their first win in the series and their first over Australia in more than 20 years.
Damien Martyn, who had been hopelessly out of form, opened the batting and smacked 42 runs off 40 deliveries before being given out to a hotly disputed lbw off the bowling of Zimbabwean skipper Heath Streak.
The world champions raced to 97 for one from 16 overs, partly thanks to a 19-run over taken off Douglas Hondo which featured a four and a six by captain Ricky Ponting.
Hondo was later taken out of the attack after just four overs, which cost Zimbabwe 35 runs for the return off one wicket — that of opener Matthew Hayden for 23.
But following that batting outburst, Australia was tied down in the next 20 overs by spinners Ray Price and Grant Flower. Price returned figures of 1-38 off 10 overs while Flower finished with 0-42 from nine overs.
Australia mustered just 69 runs for the loss of three wickets during that period.
Michael Clarke gifted Blessing Mahwire with his first one-day international wicket when he didn’t play at a straight delivery which clipped his stumps.
Ian Harvey was run out for 23 and Ponting was caught sweeping for 35.
Bevan and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who made 32, added 58 for the sixth wicket and the latter did a good job of imitating the rested run-making machine Adam Gilchrist by smashing two sixes down the ground off Flower.
But Streak stalled Australia’s progress by bowling Haddin and then running out Brad Hogg for a duck with a direct hit. – Sapa-AFP