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Aus vs Zim: Day 4

Monday, October 13 2003

A late sprinkling of showers has delayed a certain Australian victory, with Zimbabwe 9/272 following on in their second innings. They still trail Australia's first innings total by 224 runs.

Resuming day 4 on 2/87, following on in their second innings, Zimbabwe were aided by injuries to front-line bowlers Stuart MacGill and Jason Gillespie. MacGill complained of a calf problem, while the injury-prone Gillespie has a side strain. Neither would take further part in this match and both are in doubt for the Sydney test match starting on Friday. Therefore the bowling reigns were handed over to the only specialists remaining fit in the Australian team, Andy Bichel and Brett Lee.


Mark Vermeulen registered his highest test score of 63, before Lee controversially claimed his wicket caught behind, by a ball from around the wicket that may have clipped his arm-guard. Zimbabwe, 3/110.


In the next over, part-time spinner Darren Lehmann captured Stuart Carlisle for 35, who had a brain explosion, trying to sweep a ball well outside off stump which ballooned to first slip where Matthew Hayden took an easy catch. Craig Wishart continued the collapse when Bichel caught him plumb in front for 8 and also had young wicket keeper Tatenda Taibu fishing outside off stump, caught behind for 3.


Craig Evans was totally bamboozled by Darren Lehmann, who exposed the smallest of gaps between bat and pad to bowl him for a disappointing 5. At one stage Zimbabwe lost 5/16 in the morning session, but launched a fight back in Sean Ervine and captain Heath Streak. Against a disabled attack, part-timers Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting all bowled at times, leading up to the second new ball.


Ervine and Streak added a partnership of 83, before Ervine was bowled by a classic in-swinger, for a gutsy 53, by Bichel with the second new ball. After the tea-break, Lehmann again proved vital with the ball in hand, capturing his best test bowling figures when Andy Blignaut attempted a big shot and was stumped for 22. Zimbabwe was on the verge of defeat at 9 wickets down, with Streak batting determinedly and Ray Price playing a good supporting hand. Two rain delays didn’t help the Australians concentration, and with Streak on 42 and Price on 17, stumps was called by the umpires, with a likely short session remaining tomorrow morning before the inevitable will occur.


Latest Scores: Stumps Day 4

Australia 6 dec. 735 (M Hayden 380, A Gilchrist 112*, S Waugh 78, D Martyn 53, S Ervine 4/146)

Zimbabwe 239 (T Gripper 53, C Wishart 46, B Lee 3/48, J Gillespie 3/52)

Zimbabwe (f/o) 9/272 (M Vermeulen 63, S Ervine 53, D Lehmann 3/54, A Bichel 3/55)

Composed by Dominic.

Posted by Andre