AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) - Australia scored 262-6 in their opening World Cup Group A match against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Australia 262-6 (S. Watson 79, M.Clarke 58) v Zimbabwe
Half-centuries from Michael Clarke and Shane Watson lifted Australia to 262 for six in their World Cup Group A match against Zimbabwe at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedebad in India on Monday.Opening bat Watson weighed with 79 off 92 deliveries while Clarke was a touch more aggressive as he ended not out on 58 off 55 balls.
The Australian batsmen found scoring tough against the plethora of spinners utilised by Zimbabwe with off-spinner Prosper Utseya ending with figures of one for 43 off 10 overs, after having had figures of 5-2-6-1.
Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer picked up one for 41 off his 10-over allocation while left-arm spinner Ray Price, who opened the bowling, finished with one for 43 off 10.
Seamer Chris Mpofu was the most successful bowler with figures of two for 58 off nine over.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat but the opening pair of Watson and Brad Haddin (29) took their time as their partnership of 61 used up 18.5 overs.
Haddin faced 66 deliveries before he was trapped leg-before by Utseya, although Zimbabwe had to make use of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) after umpire Asoka de Silva had initially given Haddin not out.
Replays showed that the ball would have hit middle stump if not for Haddin’s leg getting in the way.
Watson was next to depart, after scoring eight fours and a six, and once again UDRS proved be the batsman’s undoing after umpire Richard Kettleborough gave Watson not out after being struck on his front pad by leg-spinner Cremer.
The on-field decision was overturned when replays showed the ball would have hit middle and off stump.
Ricky Pointing (28) fell to a wonderful piece of fielding when he was run out at the non-striker’s end, thanks to a direct hit from Mpofu fielding at deep square leg.
Cameron White (22), bowled by Mpofu, and David Hussey (14), bowled by Price, failed to build on decent starts but Clarke provided the innings with some late impetus as he brought up his 46th one-day international fifty off 50 balls.
Teams
Australia – Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, David Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait.
Zimbabwe - Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price.
