NEW DELHI, April 11: When he was 10 years old, Ricky Ponting's grandma gave him a T-shirt with the message "Future Australia Test Cricketer" splashed across it. These days, he is busy living upto another tag, The Punter. "A guy who loves to bet a quid and more on horses and greyhounds," as a member of the Aussie camp explains. Probably, an aggressive streak has something to do with that reputation; the "disco brawl" controversy in Calcutta being a gentle reminder. But to Zimbabwe's misfortune, all that energy was channelised against their bowlers at the Feroze Shah Kotla today. Seventeen fours and a six spiced up a brilliant 145 as Ponting set up for Australia an exciting date with India in the Pepsi tri-series final.In the end, after Zimbabwe fell 16 runs short of Australia's 294 for three, it was back to that familiar line for skipper Alistair Campbell: "It was too much for us." Indeed it was almost as if the decent crowd here was watching a replay of Zimbabwe's matches in this series. The script was sofamiliar: the top order clawing up courageously; a key wicket falls; and finally, the late-order collapse.
This time, it was the Flower brothers who took Zimbabwe to the edge with a 121 runs partnership for the third wicket. And, surprisingly, it was Andy Flower, the left-hander who took on the aggressor's role in an attacking 73 off 67 balls. Grant, probably shaken by Campbell's early exit, just hung on there watching Murray Goodwin make a stroke-filled 46, before his brother joined him.
But, just as the Australians were getting jittery, Warne struck back after an ordinary first spell. A low topspinner had Grant, and Andy followed the next over to a brilliant pick-up and throw routine by Mark Waugh. The familiar tumble followed even as their run rate matched Australia's till the 46th over. But there was no one to lead the final charge and Heath Streak stood alone amidst the rubble.
Did Campbell slip up this time by opting to field on a pitch that slowed down as the match progressed? Or was it thatunfortunate run out of Andy Flower (73) at 226 that pulled them down? The Zimabaweans, anyway, have realised that the answers lie beyond this match. Campbell, for starters, would like a long hard look at their "batting, under pressure."
As for the Australians, this inspring win prompted skipper Steve Waugh to predict that the side is "peaking at the right time." The message: watch out India.
Obviously, Ponting's "bright" innings and the efficient support role of Mark Waugh (87) in a second wicket tie-up of 219 runs has perked up the Australians in their last week here.
As Ponting got cracking with his selected pet shots square off the wicket, Mark Waugh woke up once in a while like when he cracked leg-spinner Adam Huckle out of the ground. And by the time both gave way for Micheal Bevan and Damien Martyn to get a bit of batting practice, Australia were well on their way to safety and beyond.
Highlights of Australia-Zimbabwe match
Australia and Zimbabwe posted their highest total againsteach other. Australia surpassed their previous highest of 272 for 7 in 60 overs made at Southampton in 1983 when they piled up 294 for 3 in 50 overs today. Zimbabwe, with today's score of 278 for 9, surpassed their previous highest of 240 in 59.5 overs. The match produced 572 runs for the loss of 12 wickets off 100 overs which is the highest match aggregate between the two teams. The previous record was 512 runs for 17 wickets off 119.5 overs at Southampton in 1983 World Cup. Ricky Ponting equalled the record of highest individual score by an Australian batsman in One-day Internationals by scoring 145 off 157 balls with 18 fours and one six. Dean Jones had made the same number of runs against England at Brisbane in 1990-91. Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh added 219 runs for the second wicket which was 19th partnership over 200 in One-day Internationals. It was Australia's best-ever against Zimbabwe. Stuart Law and David Boon, who added 159 runs for the second-wicket at Hobart in 1994-95,held the previous record of best partnership for Australia against Zimbabwe. Playing in his 50th One-day International, Ricky Ponting scored his fourth century. He is the 31st Australian to play 50 or more matches. Andy Flower became the second Zimbabwean batsman to score 2,500 runs in one-dayers. Flower achieved this feat when he reached 61 during his 73-run knock. It was Andy Flower's 20th fifty in his 87th match. Andy's younger brother Grant Flower, who scored 2,647 runs in 78 matches, was the first batsman to score 2,500 runs for Zimbabwe. -- Compiled S Pervez Qaiser
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
