Sat, May 29, 2004 - Page 20 News List

Australia routinely wraps up one-day series in Zimbabwe

AFP , HARARE

Australia duly wrapped up their second one-day international match against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Thursday to win the series 2-0 with one to play.

It was a routine sort of day for Australia who, although nowhere near their best, won by 139 runs. They scored 323-8 in their 50 overs and then bowled out Zimbabwe for 184 in 44.3 overs.

The Australians, put into bat, were 43-2 early on with the loss of Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke.

But Matthew Hayden and Darren Lehmann steadied the tourists and when Lehmann was out having made 67, Australia were secure again on 180-3, a partnership of 137. Lehmann only required 69 balls.

Hayden, who was intent on not failing again after a duck in the first match on Tuesday, went on to score 87 in 110 balls.

No other Australian batsman made a significant contribution but they all got into double figures.

Jason Gillespie rounded things off nicely by hitting an unbeaten 33 in the final overs, including three sixes.

It was Ricky Ponting's 200th one-day match for Australia and Damien Martyn's 150th. But neither of them will regard this match as memorable because they made only 10 and 20 respectively.

Zimbabwe got off to an excellent start in reply, putting on 48 for the first wicket, 60 for the second and 55 for the third.

Opening batsman Brendan Taylor led the way with 65 -- his third half century in succession, having made 59 on Tuesday and 61 in the second Test against Sri Lanka earlier in the month.

But from 163-3 the young Zimbabweans went into freefall, losing the remainder of their wickets for a further 21 runs.

Lehmann, who got four wickets for only seven runs, was named man of the match.

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