Match report Australia v Zimbabwe VB Series 29 Jan 2004 by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Australia v Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe’s run of eight consecutive one-day defeats, six of them in this VB series, came to an end at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but in an unsatisfactory way. Rain cut off their final match against Australia at the halfway stage, giving them three points for a drawn match.

 

The weather always threatened this match. A sudden morning shower caught the ground staff napping, and though the pitch itself was covered, rain got on the surrounds and made it and much of the outfield rather slippery. Rain caused a 20-minute hold-up during the Australian innings and finally moved in during the interval to bring the match to a premature end.

 

There was moisture below the surface of the pitch and nobody was quite sure what effect this would have, so Heath Streak must have surely wished he had ended his losing run with the toss (four consecutive losses) in easier circumstances. Encouraged by Zimbabwe’s good, if ultimately unsuccessful, batting chasing targets and hoping for some assistance from the pitch and the overcast sky, he chose to field. Good or bad decision? The weather did not allow enough evidence for a verdict.

 

Zimbabwe omitted Travis Friend and Stuart Matsikenyeri, neither of whom could claim an extended run in the team, for Vusi Sibanda, forever in and out, and Blessing Mahwire, an extra bowler. For Australia, Adam Gilchrist was still resting, while Jason Gillespie and Andrew Symonds were given a match off. Further evidence that Australia did not consider Zimbabwe to be a serious threat came when Ricky Ponting, who will rest for their two matches in Perth, juggled his batting order in an attempt to give his all-rounders some serious batting practice.

 

Damian Martyn, short of runs in the VB Series, had another chance to open the innings and middled the ball from the start. Matt Hayden, seeking to dominate as usual, drove Streak powerfully through the covers for four in the first over, but after that Martyn dominated to score 42 off 40 balls. The score was 59 in the 11th over when he unexpectedly departed, moving across his stumps to Streak and being trapped lbw by the off-cutter.

 

Andy Blignaut actually tested Hayden more than did the more accurate but also more predictable Streak. Blignaut was not afraid to bang the ball in short, preventing Hayden from driving him and tempting him to pull himself to destruction. But that didn’t stop him going for 23 off his four overs, and it was Douglas Hondo who took Hayden’s wicket, bowling him for 23 as he tried to run a ball down the third man.

 

Debutant Mahwire lost the chance of a notable first wicket when he missed a sharp return catch from Pointing, but did dismiss Michael Clarke (11), who ill-advisedly shouldered arms and was bowled by a ball that cut in and hit his off stump. The promoted Ian Harvey hit some powerful shots in his 23, but then tried to take a most unlikely single to Blignaut and failed to beat the return as he was sent back. Then Ponting (35) swept Price to deep square leg and Australia were not as well placed as they would have liked at 155 for five in the 32nd over.

 

Again Price and Grant Flower bowled their left-arm spin in tandem in the middle of the innings, restricting the scoring rate but failing to make a major breakthrough. Michael Bevan was joined by Gilchrist’s substitute as keeper, Brad Haddin, and they steadied the innings by adding 58 at five an over. Haddin (32) hit two big sixes, but found himself restricted and, perhaps frustrated, tried to pull Streak from outside the off stump and dragged the ball on to his wicket.

 

Then came two run-outs. Brad Hogg had not got off the mark when he risked a quick single to cover and Streak’s powerful throw shattered the stumps before he got home. Then Bevan, who rarely falls this way, fatally sought a second run to Blignaut and paid the penalty, departing for 56. He was to be Australia’s highest scorer, although eight batsmen reached double figures and failed to play a major innings. Three run-outs in an Australian innings is rare, and there might have been more had some of the Zimbabwean throws been more accurate; at least three more chances were missed.

 

Brett Lee scored 3 before holing out at mid-off off Ervine, who bowled better on this occasion. Andy Bichel made an unbeaten 23 off 19 balls and finished the innings with a big six off Ervine, enabling Australia to total 263 for nine off their 50 overs.

 

The conditions were not as good as usual for batting, so Australia had probably done enough to win the match even had Zimbabwe turned in one of their best performances. But we shall never know, as the anticipated rain set in during the lunch interval and the teams were never able to take the field again. Had they known it would be only half a match, Zimbabwe might have preferred to gain experience in batting, their main weakness on tour.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 John Ward)