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Australia sweep series in Harare

Sunday, May 30 2004

Jason Gillespie and Michael Clarke starred as Australia recorded a clinical 8-wicket victory over Zimbabwe, sealing a predictable 3-0 clean sweep of the controversial tour. Gillespie's five-wicket haul earned him man of the match honours, while Clarke's maiden ODI century saw Australia home with nearly twenty overs to spare.

Zimbabwe suffered a setback before the match commenced, with both of their opening bowlers, the impressive youngster Tinashe Panyangara and Douglas Hondo, unable to take part after having sustained injuries from the second ODI. They were replaced by all-rounder Elton Chigumbura, and pace bowler Edward Rainsford, making his ODI debut. With the series already secure, Australia took the opportunity to make two changes, resting Hayden and Lehmann, replaced by Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson, playing his first international since a back injury forced him out of the 2003 World Cup.

Ponting, upon winning the toss, sent Zimbabwe in on a pitch offering good, consistent bounce and a hint of movement. Gillespie was given the new ball, and struck a major blow in the first over, trapping the heretofore successful Brendan Taylor LBW for 1. Glenn McGrath was denied the new-ball after uninspiring performances in his comeback series, Kasprowicz instead being given the opportunity.

Zimbabwe's saving grace in the first two matches was the solid platform provided by the top order, in both matches losing only one wicket in the first fifteen overs. Here, they lost five, as Gillespie and Kasprowicz made excellent use of the new ball. Gillespie removed Matsikenyeri (4) holing out to third man, followed by Sibanda (1), before a brilliant return catch accounted for Vermeulen (17). He completed his five wicket haul soon after, uprooting the leg stump of Maregwede (1), finishing with 5 for 32. Kasprowicz (1 for 27) bowled well at the other end, but was rewarded with only one wicket, the important one of captain Tatenda Taibu, who steadied the innings somewhat with a patient 27.

At 61 for 6, Mluleki Nkala joined Chigumbura at the crease. Chigumbura was undaunted by the situation, responding with an uninhibited display of audacious, if at times fortunate, strokeplay. McGrath (0/28) put in a more encouraging performance, beating the edge on numerous occasions, but he, along with Watson (0/38) was unable to break the seventh-wicket stand.

Chigumbura took to the spinners particularly well, hitting both Hogg and Symonds over the long-on fence. Hogg suffered further ignominy, when, in attempting to throw the ball back to Gilchrist after fielding his own delivery, succeeding only in lobbing it over the wicketkeeper's head for four. He redeemed himself soon later, however, bowling Nkala (47) to end a superb 115-run stand. Hogg (3 for 37) finished the innings by removing Chigumbura for a career-best 77, then trapping Mwayenga in front for 1, as Zimbabwe posted a respectable but nonetheless inadequate 196.

Michael Clarke was given the opportunity to open with Adam Gilchrist, the latter looking to make up for a fairly lean series with the bat. He focused his aggression on Tawanda Mupariwa, hitting him for a sequence of 4, 4, 6, 4, before dragging the next ball onto his middle stump to end a whirlwind innings of 44 from just 27 balls. Clarke played impressively, sending anything overpitched to the cover boundary. Symonds came and went for 20, eventually out finding mid-on after attempting to charge down a short ball from Mupariwa, who ended as the only wicket-taker with 2 for 48. The remainder of the bowlers were largely unimpressive, though Rainsford did show some promise on debut.

Watson was sent in at 4, but the focus was squarely on Clarke, who raced towards a maiden ODI century showing no signs of nervousness in approaching the milestone. On 85, he pulled Chigumbura over midwicket for a huge six, then hitting the next two deliveries for four to reach 99. A single to point off the next ball sealed a terrific century at better than a run-a-ball. Clarke consummated Australia's victory soon afterwards with his sixteenth four to end unbeaten on 105 from 102 deliveries, Australia passing Zimbabwe's total in just 30.4 overs.

Gillespie collected the trophies for man of the match and man of the series (7 wickets at 12.8), and became an instant millionaire (of sorts), awarded one and a half million Zimbabwean dollars. Australia's attention now turns to the upcoming Test series at home against Sri Lanka, while Zimbabwe's immediate future is highly uncertain, to be clarified at the ICC meeting next month where their future in Test cricket will likely be voted upon.

Score Summary:

Zimbabwe: 196 all out in 48.5 overs
E Chigumbura 77 (90), ML Nkala 47 (80), JN Gillespie 32/5 (10), GB Hogg 37/3 (6.5)
Australia: 199/2 in 30.4 overs
MJ Clarke 105* (102), AC Gilchrist 44 (27), T Mupariwa 48/2 (8)

Man of the Match: JN Gillespie
Man of the Series: JN Gillespie

Result: Australia win by 8 wickets and win the three-match ODI series 3-0

Posted by Adam