Adam Gilchrist hit a swashbuckling 172 to propel Australia to an emphatic148-run victory over a beleaguered Zimbabwe in the triangular one-day seriesmatch in Hobart today.
After watching the world champions pile up a mammoth 344 for seven, Zimbabwesuffered yet another top order batting collapse to reach 196 for 6 for theirthird successive defeat.
Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak and young wicketkeeper batsman Tatenda Taibuonce again played a crucial role in restoring some pride for the Africans with a102-run sixth wicket partnership.
Streak, who captured three for 50 during the Australian innings, hit anunbeaten 64 while Taibu made 44 as the visitors had the consolation of not beingbowled out.
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Australia strengthened their position at the top of the points table withthree wins from as many matches.
Australia gained maximum six points from the match to increase their tally to17, 10 points above the second placed India, while Streak's men languish at thebottom without a point.
The hosts take on India in their next match at Brisbane on Sunday.
Gilchrist's tenth one-day century came off just 126 balls with 13 fours andthree sixes as Australia made the most of a perfect batting track at theBellerive Oval. It was Australia's highest score against Zimbabwe and thehighest at the venue.
The left-handed Gilchrist also passed the personal milestone of 6,000 runs inthe shorter version of the game when he reached 150.
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Gilchrist's 172 was the second highest one-day score by an Australian afterMark Waugh's 173 against the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in2000-01.
The Australian vice-captain shared a record 140-run opening stand withMatthew Hayden who dominated the first wicket partnership with a 75-ball 63 thatcontained five fours.
Gilchrist and Hayden began unconvincingly after captain Ricky Ponting won thetoss and elected to bat. Both were intent on attacking the Zimbabwe bowlers fromthe outset but were in too much of a hurry to play proper shots.
Still the hundred came in the 16th over with the batsmen flourishing throughsome bad bowling and fielding.
Gilchrist was dropped on 36 by Douglas Hondo and the Zimbabweans paid dearlyfor the error.
The aggressive left-hander exploded after the departure of Hayden, who fellmistiming an on-drive off Streak for a simple catch to Vusi Sibanda at mid-on.
Gilchrist's century surprisingly had only six fours and a six but it come offonly 89 balls. After crossing the three-figure mark, however, the buccaneeringbatsman opened his shoulders to play some exhilarating shots.
In between, Ponting (37) survived a stumping chance off Raymond Price butfailed to capitalise on it as he lifted Grant Flower straight to Matsikenyeri atlong-off.
The momentum, however, was maintained by the free-wheeling Gilchrist.Australia's 200 came in the 34th over and the next hundred in another 61 balls.
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But the flow slowed down drastically after the dismissal of the openingbatsman, bowled by Sean Ervine (2-65) while going for the slog.
Andrew Symonds (0) was run out off the first ball he faced, and Streak caughtMichael Bevan (7) to give Ervine his second wicket.
The Zimbabwe captain then removed Micheal Clarke (0) and Andy Bichel (0) inthree balls to puncture the fast rolling Australian wheel.
Damien Martyn (47 no) kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end but theflurry of wickets stopped Australia from reaching the 350-mark.
The Zimbabwe chase was never on after they were reduced to 52 for four in the19th over.
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Tearaway fast bowler Brett Lee, returning after poor form had kept him out ofthe first two matches, struck in the fifth over to remove Sibanda caught behind.
Mark Vermeulen and Dion Ebrahim, replacing the injured Stuart Carlisle,helped Gilchrist complete a satisfying day in office with three catches.
After the fall of Ervine, Streak raised 41 runs with Flower for the fifthwicket but any hopes the skipper might have nurtured of attacking the Aussietotal was nipped in the bud when Flower was run out for 40.
In the end, Taibu and Streak, who had briefly defied the hosts in theprevious match with a 66-run stand, were left to do some damage controlexercise.
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Agencies
