Email Us Forum Mail Article Print Article

Australia Power On

Saturday, October 11 2003

It was all coming up Hayden as he powered his way to a triple ton and a new world record, the likes of which have not been seen in Australia for many years. In bringing up his 300 off only 364 deliveries and breaking a string of records along the way (including Brian Lara's 375 from 10 years ago), Matthew Hayden dominated a day which will take its place amongst Australia's most commanding batting performances as he finished with 380 and Australia totalled 6/735. Zimbabwe were 1/79 in reply at stumps.

In a day in which the bat tended to destroy what's left of the ball, Hayden and the other Australian batsmen made batting look ridiculously easy against a rather mediocre Zimbabwean attack. He started in circumspect fashion as Steve Waugh blazed away in the embryonic overs of the day hitting fours to all parts of the ground as the Zimbabweans continued to make the mistake of bowling too full to the Australian batsmen, searching for swing.

Revenge soon followed as Sean Ervine ended Steve Waugh's dream of a hundred at Waugh's last frontier of a hundred at each Australian ground when he induced an inside edge onto Waugh's front pad which ballooned up for a sprawling Ervine to take one-handed. Waugh's innings ended on 76, a fluent effort in support of Hayden which belied his 38 years.

Next in was Darren Lehmann who supported Hayden in his endeavour in his own inimitable way, busily compiling runs at almost a run-a-ball with deft touches and the occasional powerhouse, open-shoulder shots. Ervine ended his innings as he induced yet another return catch to see Lehmann on his way for 30.

Enter Adam Gilchrist, as devastating a number 7 in world cricket as there ever has been. He set about re-iterating the point by blasting his way to 113* in concert with Hayden, hitting several sixes along the way. Hit brought up his hundred off only 84 balls and, even though he played second fiddle to the Hayden onslaught, his innings was a gem. It was vastly overshadowed by Hayden's great knock but ignoring that (if it were possible!), Gilchrist's innings will be considered one of his classiest as he was at his powerful best.

But today was Hayden's day and he passed Lara with a single down the ground to rapturous applause from the Perth crowd. It was a magnificent innings scored in blindingly quick time (437 balls) with 38 fours and 11 sixes. Having set himself for a big innings judging by his play early in the day, he achieved the biggest of them all in a powerhouse fashion which set the standard for the others to follow. He was feeling so confident that when he removed his helmet in a spell where the spinners were on, he didn't bother to put it back on even when the pacers were re-introduced and in fact, kept his treasured Baggy Green atop his head for the remainder of his innings.

Suffice it to say but the best of the bowlers was Sean Ervine with 4/146 as he bowled straight where others could not. The spin duo of Gripper (2/142) and debutante Price (0/187) were treated with scant respect by Hayden and the rest. Heath Streak (0/131) was particularly disappointing, bowling far too full for the most part as all of the Zimbabweans (bar Ervine) conceded well above 4.5 per over.

The Zimbabwean reply in reponse to the monster total was solid and to underscore the flatness of the pitch, they Zimbabwean openers rarely looked troubled by the formiable attack of Gillespie, Lee and Bichel. Trevor Gripper in particular looked as good as one would expect under enormous pressure from the Australian fielders and bowlers and started with two quick fours before settling in for what looks to be a very promising innings.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd over as Gillespie clean-bowled Dion Ebrahim for 29 just as he was looking set. Zimbabwe kept up the solid resistance all the way until stumps were drawn with them solidly placed at 1/79 and looking good to at least make Australia work for their wickets.

On such a flat pitch, the Aussie attack will have to be patient for their wickets but in all likelihood, it won't matter. Zimbabwe look unlilkely to challenge the follow-on point and unless a fightback of epic proportions is initiated and won, they look unlikely to last long enough for a draw to be the result. However, if one or two batsmen score some runs, they just may stretch the Australian team to the last day and who knows, may even challenge the Australian score and force them to bat again.

Day 2 Scores – Australia vs Zimbabwe

Australia: 6/735 (M Hayden 380, A Gilchrist 113*; S Ervine 4/146)

Zimbabwe: 1/79 (T Gripper 37*, M Vermeulen 9*, D Ebrahim 29; J Gillespie 1/14)

Posted by Richard