Aus vs Zim: Day 3
Sunday, October 12 2003
Australia came crashing back to earth with a thud following Matthew Hayden's heroics on day 2, losing Stuart MacGill and Jason Gillespie for the remainder of the match and possibly the series to injury.
Zimbabwe resumed day 3 at 1/80 having lost Dion Ebrahim late in the evening on Day 2.
Trevor Gripper continued his resilient innings, and after resuming the day on 40 he soon punched his way to a fighting 53.
Gripper was felled by Brett Lee - first struck on the back of the head in what can only be described as a painful blow - before being caught by Darren Lehmann off the same bowler.
Stuart Carlisle (2) and Mark Vermeulen (2) both struggled against mesmerizing leg-spinner Stuart MacGill when they were caught off edges to first slip Matthew Hayden.
MacGill looked in prime form before having to hobble off with a knee injury.
Andy Bichel then made 2 crucial breakthroughs, finding the edge of an in-form Craig Wishart after making 46 and damaging Craig Evans' stumps following a stable 22.
Tatenda Taibu showed promise in making 15 before he was trapped LBW to Jason Gillespie to give the mullet-haired bowler his second wicket.
Captain Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut were then claimed by Brett Lee in successive deliveries, and while the hat trick was averted, Gillespie claimed Sean Ervine to leave the tourists all out for 239.
The wickets were evenly shared by the bowlers with openers Lee and Gillespie snaring 3 each and support network Bichel and MacGill 2 a piece.
Enforcing the follow on, Gillespie snared two telling blows with the dismissal of Gripper for 0 with a fantastic delivery, followed by an uninspiring Ebrahim for 4.
Sadly, Gillespie soon left the field with a side strain with figures of 2/6.
He will take no further part in the match and is an unlikely starter at the SCG on Friday.
The casualty ward expanded when MacGill, who left the field earlier in the day with a knee problem, damaged a calf and failed to complete his 4th over.
He will also take no further part and will miss the next Test in Sydney.
With Australia's bowling stocks limited to just 2 specialist bowlers, Zimbabwe crawled to 2/87 at stumps.
Latest Scores: Stumps Day 3
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 2/87 (M Vermeulen 50*, S Carlisle 26*, J Gillespie 2/6)
Stumps Day 3.
Posted by Andre
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