Australia demolish Zimbabwe

Australia demolish Zimbabwe
Associated Press

Melbourne, January 21: The absence of Mark and Steve Waugh in the Australian attack was Darren Lehmann’s gain on Sunday as the home side beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets in a tri-series limited-overs match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Chasing Zimbabwe’s 223-9 from 50 overs, left-handed Lehmann top-scored with unbeaten 92 as Australia coasted to 228-2 from 36.5 overs, with Michael Bevan unbeaten on 14.

Lehmann opened after Mark Waugh was rested from the lineup along with opening bowler Glenn McGrath. Captain Steve Waugh was out with a groin injury.

While Waugh’s replacement Simon Katich did not bat in his One-Day international debut and Brett Lee had a poor match (0-70) after coming in for McGrath, Lehmann relished his opportunity.

He faced 104 balls in 158 minutes and hit nine fours in his well-paced knock. Lehmann was named man of the match.

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe: A Campbell c Bevan b Harvey 30, G Whittall c Gilchrist b Harvey 25, S Carlisle c Harvey b Warne 12, A Flower c Lehmann b Symonds 23, G Flower c&b Warne 51, G Rennie st Gilchrist b Symonds 13, D Viljoen c&b Lehmann 7, H Streak c Lehmann b Harvey 23, M Nkala b Harvey 16, T Friend not out 0, Extras (lb-7 W-9 nb-7) 23, Total (nine wickets, 50 overs) 223.
Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-67, 3-78, 4-117, 5-145, 6-160, 7-187, 8-219, 9-223.

Bowling: Lee 8-0-70-0 (w-7, nb-7), Bracken 6-0-23-0, Harvey 9-0-28-4, Warne 10-2-21-2, Symonds 10-2-38-2 (w-2), Lehmann 7-0-36-1.

Australia: D Lehmann not out 92, A Gilchrist c Murphy b Friend 39, R Ponting run out 68, M Bevan not out 14, Extras (b-1 lb-5 w-6 nb-1) 13, Total (for two wickets, 36.5 overs) 226.
Fall of wickets:1-54, 2-198. Bowling: Streak 5-1-37-0, Friend 6.5-0-52-1 (w-5, nb-1), Murphy 10-0-47-0 (w-1), Nkala 7-0-30-0, Viljoen 6-0-37-0, Whittall 2-0-17-0.