da dobrowin： The Australians completed a convincing 244-run victory over theZCU President’s XI at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, after tea onthe third day
John Ward11-Oct-1999The Australians completed a convincing 244-run victory over theZCU President’s XI at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, after tea onthe third day. They completely dominated the final day’s playuntil easing off late in the final innings. The day’s highlightsincluded some superb bowling by Damien Fleming and an impressivefighting innings of 47 by Greg Lamb for the home team in the faceof great adversity.Steve Waugh’s 54th career century, cut short on 99 overnight, wasdelayed by a maiden over by John Rennie; it was not until thefirst ball of Rennie’s next over that he was able to drive himstraight for two to bring up three figures. It took him 109balls, and one could almost say that he was warmly applauded byboth spectators, so thin was the Bulawayo Monday morning ‘crowd’.They continued to accumulate, with Mark Waugh twice playingskilful late cuts for four off Rennie and then driving Brandesmagnificently to the extra-cover and then the long-off boundaryto bring up the 300-run lead.When Greg Lamb came on to bowl his slow medium-pace, Steve hithim for four and a massive six over midwicket, and next over evenBrandes got the treatment, hit over his head for six and then aone-bounce four over mid-on. Both batsmen were now hitting ateverything, with power taking precedence over technique. Stevereached his third fifty off 33 balls, but when on 152 sent up asteepling skyer off Lamb, only for Brandes at midwicket tomisjudge it completely, close to the sun, and the chance wentdown, with the batsman already having walked ten metres backtowards the pavilion.Brandes made up for his lapse shortly afterwards, holding amishit at extra cover off the bowling of Mbangwa. Steve had made161 off 146 balls, and the score was 255 for three. Mark wasthen on 90, and it took him another 25 minutes before he hitMbangwa wide of mid-on to reach his 72nd first-class century off155 balls. Still the declaration did not come, as Mark and IanHealy continued to take their net practice in the middle. Markeventually fell for 116 to a catch by Mark Vermeulen near themidwicket boundary off the gentle off-spin of Trevor Gripper,making the total 303 for four.The declaration finally came at 304 for five, half an hour beforelunch, when Healy pushed back a straight-forward return catch toGripper, with his own score on 21. Shane Warne was unbeaten witha single, and the President’s XI were left with the impossibletarget of 421 in a minimum of 76 overs.The home side lost their first wicket with only 2 runs on theboard, Doug Marillier being beaten off the back foot by a ballfrom Damien Fleming that moved in sharply and trapped him lbwwithout scoring. At this stage the Australians were employingfive slips and a gully to both bowlers. Lunch came after fiveovers, with the score on 2 for one wicket, Gripper not out with 1and Vermeulen 0.After lunch Gripper surprised everybody with a cracking squarecut off McGrath to the boundary. Moments later, though, Fleminggot another lbw victim with his off-cutter; Vermeulen, still toscore, played forward to be hit on the front pad but still fellfoul of umpire Ahmed Esat’s finger. The President’s XI were now6 for two wickets.Trevor Madondo announced his presence with a superb boundarythrough extra cover off Fleming and then slashed McGrath to thirdman for another, while Gripper drove McGrath straight for four.But the opener was not to repeat his effort of the first innings;perhaps playing outside his limitations, he tried to driveFleming through the covers but snicked a shoulder-high catch toMark Waugh at second slip. He had made 10 and the President’s XIwere now 20 for three. With him went his team’s last realistichope of saving the match. Out playing an attacking stroke, hemay well eschew them for life now. Fleming had a superb openingspell of 7-4-7-3.Madondo it seemed was batting by numbers, trying to hit everythird ball for four. After another boundary through the covers,a lifter from McGrath took him by surprise and lobbed off hisglove for Mark Waugh to take another catch. Madondo’s 12 had allcome in fours, and the team was now rushing headlong towardsdefeat at 24 for four. Stuart Carlisle failed to score, fencingoutside off stump to snick a regulation catch to the keeper; 25for five. The local players appeared too intimidated by theAustralians to put up any sort of fight, and Carlisle’sinternational future appears non-existent after his failures inthis match. He has the ability and is a dedicated player, but isquite unable to put it together at the moment.The score was boosted by the advent of Matt Nicholson in place ofMcGrath, and he generously donated four wides and four byes tothe President’s XI cause in his first over. Greg Lamb and BruceMoore-Gordon dug in and fought it out, and suddenly, with thescore past 50, Lamb found his confidence, driving Shane Warnestraight and then wide of mid-on for fours off successive balls.Finally Warne came round the wicket and immediately bowledMoore-Gordon behind his legs for 5, the wicket unguarded by hispads. Six wickets were now down for 62, which represented asubstantial recovery.Warne continued his attack around the wicket, and Brandes enjoyedhitting a full toss to the midwicket boundary. The next ball,however, turned right across him and took the edge of the bat,giving another catch to Mark Waugh at slip. He had made 6, andthe score was 70 for seven. Lamb continued to look for theoverpitched ball and off-drove McGrath for a stylish boundary,and then pulled a short faster one from Warne for four tomidwicket. Fleming replaced McGrath, and Lamb on-drove himsmoothly for another boundary to take his score to 30.Rennie was content to keep his end up while Lamb, a young manwith an exemplary attitude, continued to play positive cricket.He hit Warne for 12 in an over, but missed the fifty he so richlydeserved. He tried to pull another short, fast ball from Warnebut was slightly late on his stroke; a thick top edge unerringlylocated Blewett at fine leg. He made 47, and the score was now105 for eight. Steve Waugh unleashed the fearsome bowling ofMichael Slater on the batsmen for the last over before tea; acover-driven boundary from Rennie took the score at the intervalto 109 for eight.Rennie was the main aggressor after tea, waiting for the rightball to hit, while Ray Price battled to find his feet. Twice inan over Rennie swung Warne across the line for four. Price fellfor 3, lbw pushing forward to Langer, and the ninth wicket wasdown for 135. Whereupon Ponting took over the wicket-keepinggloves and Healy bowled the next over, at a steady medium-pace.Pommie Mbangwa enjoyed himself with three twos in the over.Rennie just cleared mid-off as he drove Langer to the boundary,and then swung him to long leg for four more next ball; hefollowed with another two, to midwicket and long-on. Healyturned to spin and subdued Mbangwa to the tune of a maiden over.The Australians continued with their fifth-string bowling attack,and Rennie reached his fifty with a lofted off-drive off Healy.He did not last long afterwards, though, mistiming a drive toextra cover, where Mark Waugh took his fourth catch of theinnings. He made exactly 50, while Mbangwa was 16 not out;victory went to the Australians by 244 runs.