NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Zimbabwe crumble on opening day of Test

Neil Johnson's spirited innings of 75 spared some of Zimbabwe's blushes on the opening day of their one-off Test against Australia.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 194 and Australia were six for no wicket at the close.

A perfect batting wicket persuaded Alistair Campbell to bat first, but Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne combined to reduce the home side to 65 for four at lunch and then 125 for seven shortly after tea.

Coming to the crease at 37 for four an hour before lunch, Johnson redressed some of the balance with Andy Flower in a partnership of 70.

He then put on 40 for the eighth wicket with Guy Whittall.

Fleming claimed two wickets in his first five overs, removing the usually solid Grant Flower with a delivery that swung away and bounced harshly to find the edge. Ricky Ponting held the sharp catch at third slip.

Next ball Murray Goodwin set off for an impossible single and found himself stranded when Greg Blewett threw to Justin Langer at short leg.

Zimbabwe were six for two in just the fourth over.

Fleming struck again just 16 runs later when captain Alistair Campbell was caught low down in the gully by Michael Slater and worse was to come soon after when opener Gavin Rennie's 57-ball vigil was ended by McGrath. He made 18.

McGrath also removed the dangerous Andy Flower (28) shortly before tea, Mark Waugh taking a catch at slip, and then Shane Warne took three consecutive wickets to bring the innings to its knees.

However, Whittall made a lusty 27 from 42 balls and Johnson burst into life with a pulled four and straight driven six off Warne to push the total towards 200.

But when McGrath was brought back for his fourth spell, this time with the new ball, Johnson immediately edged to slip to depart for 75 from 187 deliveries. He hit eight fours and one six.

Neither Greg Blewett nor Michael Slater appeared remotely challenged in the three overs they faced before the close.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe (1st innings):
G. Rennie c Ponting b McGrath 18
G. Flower c Ponting b Fleming 1
M. Goodwin run out 0
A. Campbell c Slater b Fleming 5
A. Flower c M. Waugh b McGrath 28
N. Johnson c M. Waugh b McGrath 75
T. Gripper lbw Warne 4
H. Streak c M. Waugh b Warne 3
G. Whittall c Healy b Warne 27
P. Strang run out 17
H. Olonga not out 0
Extras (b-2, lb-4, nb-10): 16
Total 194
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-22, 4-37, 5-107, 6-119, 7-125, 8-165, 9-190
Bowling: McGrath 23-7-44-3 (9nb), Fleming 15-6-22-2, Miller 19-6-36-0, Warne 23-2-69-3 (1nb), Ponting 1-1-0-0, S. Waugh 4-1-17-0.

Australia (1st innings):
M. Slater not out 4
G. Blewett not out 1
Extras (lb-1): 1
Total (for no wicket): 6
To bat: Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Colin Miller, Glenn McGrath.
Bowling (to date): Olonga 2-1-5-0, Streak 1-1-0-0.

UNI