Wisden
Singer World Series, first qualifying match

AUSTRALIA v ZIMBABWE

At R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, August 26 (day/night). Australia won by 125 runs. Toss: Australia. International debut: G. B. Hogg.

Healy kept to Australia's usual habit of batting after winning the toss. On a sound if sluggish pitch, they were never troubled. Slater scored his first one-day fifty since March 1995 and Steve Waugh made 82 off 70 balls. Campbell had talked of a bolder Zimbabwean approach, but it came to nothing. Indeed, Shah, returning to international cricket after nearly two years, was the only batsman to reach 20; he advanced to 41, taking up 30 overs, before becoming the first victim of left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg, promoted because Warne had stayed at home after finger surgery.

Man of the Match: S. R. Waugh.

© John Wisden & Co