†AUSTRALIA v ZIMBABWE

At Cuttack, October 30. Australia won by 70 runs. Toss: Zimbabwe. Australia did well to reach 266 on a pitch viewed with some suspicion; rightly so as it proved. When Zimbabwe batted, a ball from Reid rose sharply to strike Waller a nasty blow on the bridge of his nose. Boon, hitting a six and nine fours, had the measure of the conditions, putting on 90 in 23 overs with Marsh and 58 in ten with Jones; but the Victorian's not out 58 included only a six and a four in boundaries. Traicos, extracting turn, took two wickets before Veletta strengthened his claims for a batting place in the middle order. Zimbabwe were again slow to start. Waller's injury made them tentative, and when May, the Australian off-spinner, dismissed Curran in the 27th over, followed by Houghton in the 29th, that effectively snuffed out Zimbabwe's challenge. Waller came back bravely to resume his innings, but an asking-rate of almost 9 an over from the final twenty overs was too demanding a task for the ICC Trophy holders.

Man of the Match: D. C. Boon.