Left is right for the Aussies

Left is right for the Aussies
Associated Press

Sydney, January 28: Australia won their sixth consecutive match and clinched a berth in the finals of the tri-series limited-overs tournament with an 86-run victory today over Zimbabwe.

Australia made 291-6 and held Zimbabwe to 205 off 47.5 overs. It was Zimbabwe’s fourth loss in five games.

Zimbabwe gave itself a chance of victory at the halfway stage but lacked the batting depth to chase the large total.

Midway through the innings, the visitors appeared in control of the game as Stuart Carlisle (44) and Andy Flower (39) added 92 runs in composed fashion off 115 balls.

But the pair were out within a few balls of each other, Flower slashing at a wide ball from Michael Bevan to be caught low down at backward point by Andrew Symonds.

Carlisle was unlucky to be given out lbw to Shane Warne by umpire Peter Parker, with replays showing the ball hit him outside off stump and was turning even further away.

Symonds then played a strong hand with his off-spinners, claiming Gavin Rennie (11) and Grant Flower (30) - both stumped by Gilchrist.

Captain Steve Waugh drew heavily on his quartet of spin bowlers, with Symonds (2-35 off eight), Warne (2-52 off 10), Bevan (1-25 off seven) and Ricky Ponting (1-12 off five) all taking wickets.

Australia’s fielding was exceptional. The final wicket of the game came when Damien Fleming threw from the boundary to run out Bryan Strang.

In the end, Zimbabwe played for its net run-rate, which could prove decisive if it can beat the West Indies in Perth on Friday and draw level with them on the points table. Earlier, Bevan led Australia in its innings, making 74 not out from 70 balls. His innings featured only four fours and one six, but a lot of fast running between wickets.