WC cricket 2011 match 4: Aussies thump Zimbabwe by 91 runs

By Team Bellevision
Bellevision Media Network

Ahmedabad, 21 February 2011: Holders Australia commenced their title defence with an emphatic 91-run victory over Zimbabwe, after their batsmen recovered from a slow start to post 262 for six in their World Cup Group A opener at the Sardar Patel Stadium here on Monday. The defending champions, who did not lose a single match on their way to titles in 2003 and 2007, thus establishing a 29-match unbeaten streak in the tournament, initially rode on half centuries from opener Shane Watson (79) and vice captain Michael Clarke (58 not out) to record a competitive total on a wicket that looked slow and offered low bounce.

 

The strong Australian attack, led by left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson’s four wickets, then ripped apart the heart of the Zimbabwe batting by reducing them to 44 for four in no time. The African nation could never recover from those blows. Zimbabwe capitulated for 171 in 46.2 overs to hand the four-time winners their 26th win in head-to-head clashes in captain Ricky Ponting’s record-setting 40th Cup appearance.

 

It was Australia’s second win in as many ties against their opponents at this venue, which also extended their unbeaten streak in World Cups to 30, the run starting in the 1999 edition in England. Zimbabwe’s spinners put the shackles on the free-scoring Australian batsmen after Ponting opted to take first strike, but when their turn to bat came, the batsmen succumbed to the pace trio of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson.

 

 

The beginning of the Zimbabwe innings was encouraging as Brendan Taylor (16) and Charles Coventry (14) put on 22 runs in quick time, but the slide started once the latter departed top-edging Lee back to the bowler off an attempted pull shot. Johnson sent back Tatendu Taibu (7) and Craig Ervine (0) with his pace and swing, while Tait breached Taylor’s defence as he tried to play him on the leg side.

 

Taibu edged Johnson to the lone slip, where Watson dived to his left to bring off a low catch, while Ervine was trapped leg before by the same bowler, after a Decision Review System referral by the Aussies reversed umpire Asoka de Silva’s not out decision. It was the second time the Sri Lankan umpire was proved wrong by technology, having earlier given Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin not out following a leg before appeal by Zimbabwe only to have the decision reversed by the DRS.

 

Three quick wickets in the span of 13 balls broke the back of Zimbabwe innings, and the rest only delayed the inevitable. Graeme Cremer scored a 51-ball 37 with the help of four fours, and Sean Williams was the second highest scorer with 28 runs. Cremer and Prosper Utseya (24) made a belated and spirited effort to bridge the gap with an 8th wicket stand of 49, the highest for Zimbabwe.

 

Match Summary

ICC World Cup 2011 Australia vs Zimbabwe, 4th Match, Group A Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad, February 21, 2011

Match Information Umpires: Asoka De Silva (SL) & Richard Kettleborough (Eng) Third Umpire: Amiesh Saheba (Ind) Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ) Toss: Australia (Elected to bat) Match Status: Australia won by 91 runs

Batting: Australia Innings

Batsmen Australia (262/6 in 50 ovs) Runs Balls 4’s 6’s SR Shane Watson lbw b G Cremer 79 92 8 1 85.87 Brad Haddin (wk) lbw b P Utseya 29 66 3 0 43.94 Ricky Ponting (c) run out (C Mpofu) 28 36 0 0 77.78 Michael Clarke not out 58 55 4 0 105.45 Cameron White b C Mpofu 22 36 0 0 61.11 David Hussey b R Price 14 8 1 1 175.00 Steven Smith c R Chakabva b C Mpofu 11 4 1 1 275.00 Mitchell Johnson not out 7 3 1 0 233.33 Brett Lee             Shaun Tait             Jason Krejza             Extras: b - 0, w - 7, nb - 0, lb - 7 14   Total:(262 for 6 in 50 overs) 262 Run Rate: 5.24

Fall Of Wickets

1/61 (Brad Haddin, 18.5 ov.), 2/140 (Shane Watson, 31.2 ov.), 3/144 (Ricky Ponting, 32.5 ov.), 4/207 (Cameron White, 44.6 ov.), 5/241 (David Hussey, 48.1 ov.), 6/254 (Steven Smith, 49.1 ov.)

Bowling: Zimbabwe

Bowler O M R W Nb Wd ER Chris Mpofu 9 0 58 2 0 2 6.4 Ray Price 10 0 43 1 0 1 4.3 Prosper Utseya 10 2 43 1 0 2 4.3 Graeme Cremer 10 0 41 1 0 1 4.1 Brendan Taylor 3 0 23 0 0 0 7.7 Elton Chigumbura 2 0 18 0 0 1 9.0 Sean Williams 6 0 29 0 0 0 4.8

Batting: Zimbabwe Innings

Batsmen Zimbabwe (171/10 in 46.2 ovs) Runs Balls 4’s 6’s SR Brendan Taylor b S Tait 16 24 1 0 66.67 Charles Coventry c & b B Lee 14 24 1 1 58.33 Tatenda Taibu (wk) c S Watson b M Johnson 7 17 1 0 41.18 Craig Ervine lbw b M Johnson 0 6 0 0 0.00 Elton Chigumbura (c) c B Haddin b J Krejza 14 25 2 0 56.00 Sean Williams c S Watson b S Tait 28 40 1 1 70.00 Regis Chakabva lbw b J Krejza 6 18 0 0 33.33 Prosper Utseya c R Ponting b D Hussey 24 45 1 0 53.33 Graeme Cremer c B Haddin b M Johnson 37 51 4 0 72.55 Ray Price not out 5 19 0 0 26.32 Chris Mpofu c B Haddin b M Johnson 2 11 0 0 18.18 Extras: b - 4, w - 3, nb - 2, lb - 9 18   Total:(171 for 10 in 46.2 overs) 171 Run Rate: 3.69

Fall Of Wickets

1/22 (Charles Coventry, 5.4 ov.), 2/40 (Tatenda Taibu, 10.3 ov.), 3/40 (Brendan Taylor, 11.2 ov.), 4/44 (Craig Ervine, 12.3 ov.), 5/88 (Elton Chigumbura, 21.2 ov.), 6/96 (Sean Williams, 24.6 ov.), 7/104 (Regis Chakabva, 27.2 ov.), 8/153 (Prosper Utseya, 39.2 ov.), 9/167 (Graeme Cremer, 42.4 ov.), 10/171 (Chris Mpofu, 46.2 ov.)

Bowling: Australia

Bowler O M R W Nb Wd ER Shaun Tait 9 1 34 2 1 2 3.8 Brett Lee 8 1 34 1 1 1 4.2 Mitchell Johnson 9.2 2 19 4 0 0 2.0 Jason Krejza 8 0 28 2 0 0 3.5 Shane Watson 3 0 7 0 0 0 2.3 Steven Smith 5 0 24 0 0 0 4.8 David Hussey 4 1 12 1 0 0 3.0