MELBOURNE, 17 January 2004 — Adam Gilchrist recaptured his best form to smash a career-high 172 and help Australia to a 148-run win over Zimbabwe in a triangular series One-Day International in Hobart yesterday.
Opener Gilchrist clubbed 13 fours and three sixes in his 126-ball innings at the Bellerive Oval as Australia scored 344 for seven, their highest One-Day International total on home soil.
Man-of-the-Match Gilchrist then took three catches behind the stumps as Zimbabwe managed just 196 for six in reply.
Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, who promoted himself from seventh to sixth in the batting order, topscored for his side for the third successive match with an unbeaten 64 after leading the bowling attack with three for 50.
Gilchrist, 32, scored his 10th century in his 180th One-Day International before he was bowled by Sean Ervine one run short of the Australia record held by Mark Waugh, who scored 173 against West Indies in 2000-01. Gilchrist, who was dropped on 36, 71 and 159, shared century partnerships with Matthew Hayden, who made a typically aggressive 63, and captain Ricky Ponting (37). Australia vice-captain Gilchrist had opened the one-day series with a pair of 34s in last week’s wins over India and Zimbabwe after averaging only 16.00 in the drawn four-Test series against India, which ended earlier this month. With Hayden he put on 140 for the first wicket in 22.3 overs before Streak broke the opening stand when he had Hayden caught by Vusi Sibanda at mid wicket.
Ponting was caught at long off from the bowling of spinner Grant Flower at 246 for two — Flower’s 100th wicket in 66 One-Day Internationals. Gilchrist’s dismissal at 310 for three triggered a mini collapse as Australia lost Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Andy Bichel for ducks and Michael Bevan for seven. Zimbabwe’s prospects of getting the 345 to win were initially bleak and the task looked impossible when they lost three for 36 in their first 15 overs.
Then Ervine was caught at backward point for eight off left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg’s second ball to leave his side on 52 for four before Streak and Flower tried to rebuild the innings. But after some good work, a mix-up saw Flower run out for 40 with the score on 93 in the 30th over.
Wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu was caught at deep square leg off the bowling of Andy Bichel for 44 in the 50th over after combining for a determined 102-run stand for the sixth wicket with Streak. Undefeated Australia (17 points) host India (7) in Brisbane tomorrow. Zimbabwe are without a point after three games.
