Australia's Shane Watson pulls a ball for four against Zimbabwe in their opening game of the 2011 ICC World Cup. Picture: AP Source: AP REPLAY our over-by-over coverage of Australia's win against Zimbabwe in their opening World Cup clash.
AUSTRALIA BEATS ZIMBABWE BY 91 RUNS IN OPENING WORLD CUP POOL GAME
Read the full match report here
47th over: Zimbabwe all out for 171 (Price 5, Mpofu OUT for 2) And that's it. All over. Australia wins its first 2011 World Cup match by 91 runs against Zimbabwe.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the final wicket, having Mpofu caught behind after getting the ball to straighten and snicking his outside edge.
Johnson finished the match with figures of 4-19 off 9.2 overs.
The only disappointments for the Aussies will be the slow start to their batting innings earlier in the day, and the fact they didn't finish off the Zimbabweans sooner, after having them 7-105 in the 28th over.
But the win marks Australia's 30th consecutive win at the World Cup, an imposing record that may never be broken.
46th over: Zimbabwe 9-171 (Price 5, Mpofu 2) Ponting brings back Tait in the hope of a quick kill, but the speedster has no luck, with both batsmen taking singles and a leg bye.
45th over: Zimbabwe 9-168 (Price 4, Mpofu 1) Johnson joins in with his second maiden of the innings. Unlucky not to have his third wicket, with three balls beating the bat during Zimbabwe's final powerplay.
44th over: Zimbabwe 9-168 (Price 4, Mpofu 1) Maiden over from Hussey as Australia marks time on their way to its 30th consecutive win in World Cup matches.
43rd over: Zimbabwe 9-168 (Price 4, Mpofu 1, Cremer OUT for 37) Johnson gets his man, getting Cremer OUT caught behind. Angles it across him and the Zimbabwean pushes at it but succeeds only in taking an edge.
42nd over: Zimbabwe 8-165 (Cremer 36, Price 4) Australia happy to steam through these final overs as quickly as possible, with Hussey practically running back to his mark between balls. Cremer and Price pick up two singles each.
41st over: Zimbabwe 8-161 (Cremer 34, Price 2) Graeme Cremer becomes Zimbabwe's top-scorer and the third-highest scorer from both sides as he moves into the 30s off Mitchell Johnson's bowling. Then sticks an exclamation mark on it with a pull shot for FOUR off a 144km/h short ball.
40th over: Zimbabwe 8-153 (Cremer 28, Price 1, Utseya OUT for 24) Utseya OUT after a plucky innings of 24. Hussey bowls a standard slower ball but the Zimbabwean's leg side shot pops up softly to Ricky Ponting at midwicket. Ray Price comes to the middle and gets straight off the mark with a single.
39th over: Zimbabwe 7-151 (Utseya 22, Cremer 28) Expensive over for Shaun Tait. Utseya guides a full delivery down to third man for FOUR, before the Australian oversteps the crease, giving away a free hit. Cremer then gets in on the act, slashing at a ball outside off stump that then flies past the keeper for another FOUR to bring up Zimbabwe's 150.
38th over: ZImbabwe 7-141 (Utseya 17, Cremer 24) The part-time brigade comes on to whip through a few overs. David Hussey bowls three dot balls before Cremer pokes him down the ground for a single, Utseya drives through the covers for two, and Utseya paddles a single onto the off side.
37th over: Zimbabwe 7-137 (Utseya 14, Cremer 23) Zimbabwe's innings continues to meander along as they struggle to get Shaun Tait away. The Aussie is on line now and gives up just one run to Cremer - a fuller ball guided down to third man.
36th over: Zimbabwe 7-136 (Utseya 14, Cremer 22) Lee gives the Africans a free hit after bowling a no ball on his third ball of the over, but Utseya misses out, failing to connect with a hook shot. Both batsman score singles to finish the over.
35th over: Zimbabwe 7-132 (Utseya 13, Cremer 20) The Zimbabweans continue to pick Smith off for singles. Five from the over as the Aussies seemingly wait for a mistake.
34th over: Zimbabwe 7-127 (Utseya 11, Cremer 17) Graeme Cremer somehow gets bat on a Lee bouncer. He knew nothing about it but the ball flies away for FOUR. A more orthodox single follows.
33rd over: Zimbabwe 7-122 (Utseya 11, Cremer 12) Smith almost snares his first World Cup wicket, beating Utseya with flight and taking a leading edge that a diving Cameron White couldn't quite reach. Four singles come from the rest of the over.
32nd over: Zimbabwe 7-118 (Utseya 9, Cremer 10) Brett Lee comes back for his second spell and is instantly on target, giving up just one run to an Utseya cover drive and continuing to push beyond 140km/h.
31st over: Zimbabwe 7-117 (Utseya 8, Cremer 10) Cremer breaks the boundary drought with a FOUR after dancing down the pitch and lifting Smith through the on side. Another six runs from the over.
30th over: Zimbabwe 7-111 (Utseya 7, Cremer 5) Krejza's figures looking more impressive by the over as he coughs up just two runs. Now has 2-28 off his eight overs.
29th over: Zimbabwe 7-109 (Utseya 6, Cremer 4) Smith taken for four runs in his second over. Zimbabwe now require 154 runs from 21 overs at a run rate of 7.33. Unlikely.
28th over: Zimbabwe 7-105 (Utseya 5, Cremer 1, Chakabva OUT for 6) Krejza's claims his second WICKET, trapping Chakabva LBW. Krejza pitched it in line with the stumps and this one didn't turn, straightening and beating the batsman, who tried a pull shot.
27th over: Zimbabwe 6-103 (Chakabva 6, Utseya 4) Steve Smith is handed the ball for his first spell of the tournament, and it's nothing special. Too short to trouble the batsmen, they pick him for five runs and a leg bye.
26th over: Zimbabwe 6-97 (Chakabva 5, Utseya 0) Krejza continues to tie up an end, with Chakabva's single off the first ball the only run for the over.
25th over: Zimbabwe 6-96 (Chakabva 4, Utseya 0, Williams OUT for 28) The top-scoring Sean Williams finally loses his WICKET to a Shaun Tait missile. Tait has continued to try for toe-crushing yorkers and he finally hits the mark with the final ball of his sixth over, with Williams poking his bat at it and catching an edge that flies to Shane Watson at slip. Just one run from the over.
24th over: Zimbabwe 5-95 (Williams 28, Chakabva 3) Krejza keeps things tight for the second over in a row, conceding just three singles.
23rd over: Zimbabwe 5-92 (Williams 27, Chakabva 1) Shaun Tait comes back into the attack but fails to trouble the batsmen, with Williams working him around for a single and a two, while Regis Chakabva also gets off the mark with a run tucked off his pads through square leg.
22nd over: Zimbabwe 5-88 (Williams 24, Chakabva 0, Chigumbura OUT for 14) Krejza again searches for turn outside off stump and Chigumbura has a big go at a sweep shot but succeeds only in catching a top edge, which Brad Haddin duly gloves. Another WICKET for Australia.
21st over: Zimbabwe 4-87 (Chigumbura 14, Williams 23) Another lean Watson over for Zimbabwe, taking just three runs off the all-rounder.
20th over: Zimbabwe 4-84 (Chigumbura 14, Williams 20) Expensive over for Australia. Krejza gives up a single and then a three when Elton Chigumbura drives against the spin into the deep. The Aussie spinner shows he can definitely turn the ball, with his final delivery pitching outside off, ripping across the Chigumbura and past wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for FOUR byes.
19th over: Zimbabwe 4-75 (Chigumbura 11, Williams 18) The Zimbabweans content to take tick the scoreboard along with singles off Shane Watson. Three in total for the over.
18th over: Zimbabwe 4-72 (Chigumbura 10, Williams 16) Williams won't die wondering. He takes a stick to Krejza on the fourth ball of his second over, stepping down the pitch and depositing him over the midwicket boundary for SIX. A further two singles make for an expensive over.
17th over: Zimbabwe 4-64 (Chigumbura 9, Williams 9) A bowling change at the other end sees Shane Watson handed the ball. Tidy over first up goes for just one run to Chigumbura.
16th over: Zimbabwe 4-63 (Chigumbura 8, Williams 9) Spinner Jason Krejza gets his first crack at the Africans and Williams welcomes him into the attack with a lucky FOUR. Krejza invited a prod and turned the ball, taking an outside edge that beat slip and run to the boundary. Another edge two balls later also fell safely and allowed two runs.
15th over: Zimbabwe 4-57 (Chigumbura 8, Williams 3) Sean Williams drives Mitchell Johnson through cover point and the batsmen run three. Zimbabwe going at 3.8 runs an over after 15 overs and now require 5.88 runs an over to win.
14th over: Zimbabwe 4-54 (Chigumbura 8, Williams 0) Chigumbura's renowned as a big hitter and he doesn't disappoint, glancing a wideish Tait delivery for FOUR off the first ball, then clubbing a fuller delivery through the covers for another FOUR. Two leg byes made it 10 runs for the over.
13th over: Zimbabwe 4-44 (Chigumbura 0, Williams 0, Ervine OUT for 0) Three overs, three WICKETS for Australia. Craig Ervine departs for a duck as Johnson sends one crashing into his pads. The umpire gives it not out but the Aussies call for a review, which shows the bat got nowhere near the ball. The umpires have had a dog of a game, with three video referrals overturning their decisions.
12th over: Zimbabwe 3-44 (Ervine 0, Chigumbura 0, Taylor OUT for 16) Tait's hit-or-miss style claims its first WICKET. Taylor played and missed, with the ball shaving his pad on the way through to collecting middle stump. Tait then serves up FOUR leg byes, snicking Chigumbura's pad on the way to the leg side boundary.
11th over: Zimbabwe 2-40 (Taylor 16, Ervine 0, Taibu OUT for 7) Australia takes the bowling powerplay and Taibu falls immediately, OUT after becoming impatient against Mitchell Johnson's consistent line and length. He tries to glance the ball to third man but takes only a thin edge, which carries low to Shane Watson at first slip. Craig Ervine joins Taylor at the crease.
10th over: Zimbabwe 1-39 (Taylor 15, Taibu 7) Zimbabwe certainly starting better than Australia did in its innings, going at almost four runs an over. Taibu shows brilliant hand-eye coordination, planting his feet and thumping a fuller delivery through cover for FOUR.
9th over: Zimbabwe 1-34 (Taylor 15, Taibu 3) Quiet over until the final ball, when Taylor survives a video referral for a run out. The Zimbabweans charge back for a second run after Taylor worked the ball through the leg side, Dave Hussey hit the stumps with the return throw but replays showed the batsman was safe.
8th over: Zimbabwe 1-30 (Taylor 12, Taibu 2) Imperious touch from Taylor, waiting on a shorter Lee delivery then deftly chipping it late over first slip for FOUR. Both batsmen also work singles.
7th over: Zimbabwe 24-1 (Taylor 7, Taibu 1) Johnson on target early and the Zimbabweans do well to clip him for a single each to finish with two runs for the over.
6th over: Zimbabwe 1-22 (Taylor 6, Taibu 0, Coventry OUT for 14) There's the first WICKET for Australia, with Charles Coventry's promising start ending on a Brett Lee short ball. Took a top edge and went straight up in the air, with Lee taking the catch to finish his own good work.
5th over: Zimbabwe 0-22 (Coventry 14, Taylor 6) Australian captain Ricky Ponting takes Shaun Tait out of the attack after just two overs, bringing on Mitchell Johnson, whose tighter lines yield just one run to Coventry - a flick off his pads to the leg side.
4th over: Zimbabwe 0-21 (Coventry 13, Taylor 6) Coventry shows no fear against the Aussie pace machine, slaying Brett Lee with a searing SIX off a square drive that barely raised above head height on its way to the boundary.
3rd over: Zimbabwe 0-13 (Coventry 6, Taylor 5) Tait peppers the batsmen with short balls but they deal with them with aplomb, working two twos, a single and a wide.
2nd over: Zimbabwe 0-7 (Coventry 2, Taylor 4) Charles Coventry dispatches Brett Lee's second ball for FOUR with a cracking shot through the covers.
1st over: Zimbabwe 0-2 (Coventry 0, Taylor 1) Zimbabwe and Australia split the points in the first over of Zimbabwe's innings, after a single to Brendan Taylor and an obligatory wide down leg side from paceman Shaun Tait.
ZIMBABWE are in with a chance against Australia after restricting them to 6-262 in their first World Cup pool match.
Tight bowling from Zimbabwe's slow bowling battery pinned Aussie openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin down in the early overs as they limped to just 32 runs off the first 13 overs.
Watson finally freed his arms when Haddin was dismissed for 29 as the innings neared the halfway mark, racing to his half-century before he was finally out LBW off the bowling of Graeme Cremer for 79.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke was the other batsman to score a half-ton, finishing unbeaten on 58 off just 55 balls.
Craig Mpofu took two wickets for Zimbabwe but they came at a cost, with the Aussies taking him for 6.44 runs an over.
50th over: Australia 6-262 (Clarke 58, Johnson 7, Smith OUT for 11) Smith's cameo ends as quickly as it began. Mpofu is lucky to get the WICKET though, after bowling a full toss on leg stump and watching Smith pick out the fieldsman on the square leg boundary. Johnson comes in and takes advantage of the stacked off side field, ripping a shorter ball to the square leg boundary for FOUR to finish Australia's innings on a positive note.
49th over: Australia 5-241 (Clarke 55, Smith 0, Hussey OUT for 14) David Hussey's quest for quick runs ends in a WICKET, with the destructive batsman out on the first ball of Price's over. Charged down the pitch, Price saw him coming, tugged the ball short and put a bit more on it, beating the bat and hitting the stumps. Steve Smith doesn't wait around, clubbing a FOUR off his first ball and a SIX off his second to bring up the 250 for Australia.
48th over: Australia 4-241 (Clarke 55, Hussey 14) Michael Clarke takes to Mpofu's bowling in the dying overs, hammering out the Aussies' most productive over of the innings. Fifteen runs in all, including two FOURS and three twos.
47th over: Australia 4-226 (Clarke 41, Hussey 13) Loose over from Utseya, with two wides and a boundary. Hussey used his feet and picked a gap between the fielders on the off side, racing the ball away for FOUR, while Clarke continued to take singles. The Australian vice-captain now has 41 runs off 46 balls, but just two boundaries.
46th over: Australia 4-216 (Clarke 39, Hussey 7) Hussey does what the rest of the Australian's couldn't, coming down the pitch and slaughtering a SIX over the bowler's head. Just the second six of the Aussie innings as Sean Williams gives up nine runs.
45th over: Australia 4-207 (Clarke 27, Hussey 0, White OUT for 22) Mpofu gets his man on the final ball of Australia's batting powerplay, taking Cameron White's WICKET. White failed to pick a slower ball, playing early through a shot aimed at midwicket as the ball ripped through middle and leg stumps. But the over was expensive, with FOUR leg byes, two wides and three handy singles coming for Australia.
44th over: Australia 3-198 (Clarke 35, White 21) Price's bowling clinic continues. Three singles and a leg bye delays Australia's advance past 200.
43rd over: Australia 3-194 (Clarke 33, White 20) Clarke hits his second FOUR, stepping down the pitch and lofting the ball back over bowler Utseya's head. White continues to live dangerously, skying another ball that landed just short of the fielder at long off.
42nd over: Australia 3-186 (Clarke 27, White 18) Big chance goes begging for Zimbabwe as Cameron White miscues a chip off his pads. The ball hung in the air and Craig Ervine just couldn't manage to get his hands under it after sprinting forward and making a diving attempt. Lucky escape for White as he and Clarke look to accelerate the scoring, taking six runs off the over.
41st over: Australia 3-180 (Clarke 25, White 14) Australia takes the batting powerplay with 10 overs remaining and straight away the boundaries start coming. Utseya comes back into the attack and Clarke pulls a short delivery off the back foot for FOUR. Was the first boundary? since the 31st over. Painful stuff.
40th over: Australia 3-172 (Clarke 19, White 12) More runs to long-on from White, while Mpofu shows he has one of the most fearsome arms in world cricket, racing to field a Clarke cut shot on the third-man boundary, then sending a missile to wicketkeeper Taibu, restricting the Aussies to just two runs. Six runs come off the over.
39th over: Australia 3-166 (Clarke 15, White 10) The stalemate is well and truly back, with just three runs off the 39th over. No sign of any risky shots from the batsmen, while Zimbabwe's attack continues with its tight and controlled line, offering few freebies.
38th over: Australia 3-163 (Clarke 14, White 8) White and Clarke score singles off five balls, tapping the ball to long-on with regularity.
37th over: Australia 3-158 (Clarke 12, White 5) The Aussies content to take singles in the period before they take their batting powerplay, scoring just three runs off Williams.
36th over: Australia 3-155 (Clarke 11, White 3) Zimbabwe right on top of the Australians now, pinning them down and conceding just 14 runs off the last four overs. Cremer gives up a single to each of the batsmen, with White looking likely to start offering wicket chances, swinging wildly but failing to connect.
35th over: Australia 3-153 (Clarke 10, White 2) White not looking entirely comfortable out in the middle, belting a Williams short ball straight to cover, then failing to connect with a reverse sweep. Finally worked a single to long on, while Clarke continued to rotate the strike with two singles. The Aussie run rate hovering just below four-and-a-half runs an over.
34th over: Australia 3-150 (Clarke 8, White 1) Cameron White off the mark with a single worked off his pads, while Clarke scores off each of his three balls, including a late cut for two off the bowling of Cremer.
33rd over: Australia 3-145 (Clarke 4, White 0, Ponting out for 28) Zimbabwe on fire with a second WICKET in consecutive overs, this time Ricky Ponting on the wrong end of a run out. Clarke always wanted two but Ponting was caught a metre short at the non-striker's end by a perfect throw from the deep from Mpofu. It hit the top of the bails and replays confirmed the result.
32nd over: Australia 2-141 (Ponting27, Clarke 1, Watson OUT for 79) Zimbabwe get their man after a WICKET from another successful video referral. Shane Watson is finally gone for 79 as he raced towards a century. Graeme Cremer came over the wicket and drifted one into the Australian's pads, the ball straightened and replays showed it would have taken middle and off. Vice-captain Michael Clarke joins Ponting at the crease, knocking a single off his first ball to get his innings under way.
31st over: Australia 1-140 (Watson 79, Ponting 27) Slow left-armer Sean Williams comes in for his first over and starts in the worst possible fashion, pushing one down the leg side and Watson helps it on its way for FOUR. Three singles to round out the rest of the over.
30th over: Australia 1-133 (Watson 73, Ponting 26) Cremer stems the flow of runs, containing Watson and Ponting to just two singles each. The Zimbabwean did well, with Ponting regularly dancing down the pitch and looking to press on.
29th over: Australia 1-129 (Watson 71, Ponting 24) Having weathered that difficult early period, the Aussies are taking full toll now. Runs come off every ball of Zimbabwe captain Chigumbura's over, with singles off the first four balls, a two from Watson and then a FOUR as the bowler puts a full ball on Watson's toes and is put away backward of square. Ten runs off that one.
28th over: Australia 1-119 (Watson 63, Ponting 22) Huge SIX from Watson as Cremer concedes 12 runs off his fourth over. Ball dropped short and Watson drops down and heaves it deep into the stands with a brutal pull shot. Ponting yet to hit a boundary but still managing to score quickly, knocking out his 22 runs off just 24 balls.
27th over: Australia 1-107 (Watson 55, Ponting 18) Elton Chigumbura comes into the attack for his first over and Watson relishes the additional speed from medium-pacer, clipping his sixth FOUR off his pads through square leg. Ponting continues to tick the scoreboard over, taking a couple of singles as the Australians reap eight runs and take their total past 100.
26th over: Australia 1-99 (Watson 50, Ponting 16) Australia close to bringing up its 100 now, but Cremer keeps the scoring in check, conceding just one run to Ponting for the over.
25th over: Australia 1-98 (Watson 50, Ponting 15)? Watson brings up his 50 off a very short ball from spinner Brendan Taylor, which the Aussie waited on before punishing through the covers for FOUR. Plenty of action in that over, too, with Ponting nudging a two through the covers before guiding the latest of late glances down to third man for three.
24th over: Australia 1-86 (Watson 44, Ponting 9) The first sign of some attacking intent from the Australian captain, who deflects the ball down to fine leg for three. He was lucky to escape earlier in the over though, almost holing out at extra cover.
23rd over: Australia 1-79 (Watson 41, Ponting 5) Watson and Ponting help themselves to a single each before Watson smacks a FOUR off the fifth ball of the over as Utseya finally strays, dropping one short. Watto then adds another single in a productive over as the Aussies inch their way towards 100.
22nd over: Australia 1-72 (Watson 35, Ponting 4) The Zimbabwe spin experiment continues to strangle the Australians. Just three more runs off Cremer.
21st over: Australia 1-69 (Watson 33, Ponting 3) Both batsman again prepared to loiter on the crease and work the ball around for singles. Two each for the over as Utseya takes his enviable figures to 1-10 off five overs.
20th over: Australia 1-65 (Watson 31, Ponting 1) Australian captain Ricky Ponting gets off the mark on the final ball of the over after two leg byes and another single to Watson.
19th over: Australia 1-61 (Watson 30, Ponting 0, Haddin OUT for 29) Brad Haddin OUT. Big LBW appeal from Prosper Utseya as Haddin plays and misses. The umpire gives it not out and the Zimbabweans throw it to the video review, which shows the ball would have hit halfway up middle and leg. Huge breakthrough for the Africans after a lean opening period for the Aussies.
18th over: Australia 0-60 (Haddin 29, Watson 29) The slow bowling battery shows no sign of abating from Zimbabwe, with leg-spinner Graeme Cremer coming into the attack. Tidy effort first up, too, with just three singles and a wide coming from his first over.
17th over: Australia 0-56 (Haddin 28, Watson 27) After that one-over highlight reel, Australia head rapidly back towards a run rate of three an over, with Utseya throwing down another maiden as Haddin defends for six straight balls.
16th over: Australia 0-56 (Haddin 28, Watson 27) Price comes back into the attack at the other end and his dreamy spell of stingy bowling continues. Just three runs off his seventh over. He's conceded just 21 runs all up.???
15th over: Australia 0-53 (Haddin 26, Watson 26) The madness ends as the Aussies take four singles. Brilliant fielding from Craig Ervine, who prevents what seemed a certain Haddin boundary off Utseya's bowling. Airborne and horizontal, he dived from mid-on and plucked the ball cleanly with his left hand, saving even a single.
14th over: Australia 0-49 (Haddin 24, Watson 24) Finally, some action as the stalemate is broken. FOUR, FOUR, FOUR and FOUR. Watson punishes a loose delivery from Mpofu in his sixth over, then hammers a pull shot off a short ball. Not to be outdone, Haddin unleashes two boundaries of his own, dragging a ball over mid-on, then caresses another one over the covers for the fourth boundary of the over. 17 runs off it.
13th over: Australia 0-32 (Haddin 16, Watson 15) How did Haddin survive that? He clips an inside edge onto his pad off a turning Utseya delivery, the ball hits the deck and bounces into the stumps but, miraculously, the bails stay on. Watson nudges a single through the covers.
12th over: Australia 0-31 (Haddin 16, Watson 14) Haddin and Watson still content to work the ball around for singles. Three more in this over. Pre-match predictions of a par score of 270 is looking worryingly beyond reach unless they get going soon. Now going at just 2.58 runs an over.
11th over: Australia 0-28 (Haddin 15, Watson 12) Zimbabwe make their first bowling change, bringing on Prosper Utseya. It doesn't yield them a wicket, but they'll take the next best thing: a maiden over. How long before the Australian camp starts to become concerned?
10th over: Australia 0-28 (Haddin 15, Watson 12) Torturous stuff from the Aussies. Extremely defensive play against Price's slow bowling and Price has a few choice words for Haddin, who finally gets a run away on the final ball of the over.
9th over: Australia 0-27 (Haddin 14, Watson 12) Watson and Haddin fail to capitalise on a couple of over-pitched balls, picking out fielders with meaty drives and managing just two more singles for the over.
8th over: Australia 0-25 (Haddin 13, Watson 11) Australia's most productive over yet, as Haddin cracks his first boundary. Backs away a touch, then drives against Price's spin through the covers for FOUR. Six runs from the over.
7th over: Australia 0-19 (Haddin 8, Watson 10) Zimbabwe let their first wicket chance go begging. Serial run-out offender Watson tries to steal a single off Mpofu's bowling, but Tatenda Taibu swoops and flings the ball at the stumps. Touch and go as to whether Watson would have made it home had the ball hit the stumps.
6th over: Australia 0-17 (Haddin 7, Watson 9) More good, tight bowling. Haddin and Watson both work a ball off their pads for a single, but that's all they can manage.
5th over: Australia 0-15 (Haddin 6, Watson 8) Just the one run from Mpofu's third over, with the Aussie openers remaining watchful and letting a couple of driveable deliveries through to the keeper. Run rate less than three an over.
4th over: Australia 0-14 (Haddin 5, Watson 8) Tidy start from the Zimbabwean attack, with just three more singles off the fourth over. Ray Price's career ODI economy rate is among the best in the world at 3.88 and he keeps things tight against with his slow left-armers.
3rd over: Australia 0-11 (Haddin 3, Watson 7) There's the first FOUR as Chris Mpofu strays down the leg side and Watson whips him to the boundary. Haddin also adds a single.
2nd over: Australia 0-5 (Haddin 2, Watson 2) A measured start for the Aussies, with another single to each batsman off the bowling of Ray Price. A wide in there, also.
1st over: Australia 0-2 (Haddin 1, Watson 1) A single to each batsman to kick off the Australian innings.
AUSTRALIA HAS WON THE TOSS AND CHOSEN TO BAT IN ITS FIRST HITOUT AGAINST ZIMBABWE AT THE 2011 ICC WORLD CUP.
Ricky Ponting's defending world champions have included spinner Jason Krejza and left out all-rounder John Hastings, while back-up paceman Doug Bollinger is 12th man.
Zimbabwe have included three frontline spinners - Ray Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer - as they try to end Australia's 29-match winning streak at World Cups.
The African side's captain Elton Chigumbura said he hoped to keep the Australians under 270 on a hard-looking pitch that is expected to offer some bounce for the pace bowlers.
Teams:
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, David Hussey, Steve Smith, Jason Krejza, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger (12th man).
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, Shingi Masakadza (12th man).
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