Wisden
Wills World Cup, Group A

AUSTRALIA v ZIMBABWE

At Nagpur, March 1. Australia won by eight wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe.

A tiny crowd, perhaps kept down by memories of the accident in which nine spectators died at the ground in November, saw a one-sided game. Zimbabwe's single victory over Australia in seven limited-overs internationals had come in the 1983 World Cup, their debut in senior cricket, but they were swept aside here. Only Waller reached 20 after they took first use of the pitch; he went on to 67 from 109 balls before hesitating too long over a second run. A total of 154 was 70 short of what they had hoped for; Warne's fourth wicket wrapped up the tail with four and a half overs to go. Another leg-spinner, Paul Strang, was again Zimbabwe's best bowler, taking both wickets after Streak opened with three maidens. But Australia soon accelerated to five an over. Mark Waugh might well have scored his third successive hundred had the target been a little higher; he and his brother knocked off the runs in the 36th over.

Man of the Match: S. K. Warne.

© John Wisden & Co