Australia v. Zimbabwe - First Test.

[Donny]

LOL. Can't you just imagine Steve saying to Gilly as he went out to bat, "Now listen, m8, I want you to support Haydos to the WR. Just put him on strike"

229 runs later, the two batsmen walk off the field with Hayden the new world record holder. Did Gilly play to instructions ? Well, in his own way, he did.

A ton in 84 balls and 113 n.o. !!

They both hit a hundred in the session. Statisticians are scurrying for the record books to see if this has ever been done.

Tea is over and Australia is batting on !! They must be after a team record. Hayden hits a 4 and tries another but is caught. The new world record is 380. Australia has declared on 6/735.

He hit 37 fours and 11 sixes and only took 437 balls.

[Donny]

The Zimbabwean openers have survived the initial onslaught from Lee and Gillespie.

They are 0/24 after 7 overs.

[Fradam]

WTG Haydos, you bloody legend

[tazza2000]

DD Ebrahim b Gillespie 29

Great Bowling by the Great Man!
Dizzy got a fantastic Economy so far!

[Donny]

Thanks, tazza. Yep, first wicket went on 61. Gripper is 32.

Dizzy has 1/15 from 10 overs.

[Ian]

As they said on the Tv,Gilly played a bit part and he still made 113.WELL DONE MATTHEW HAYDEN (Test world record holder 380 runs)

[Geoffy Pie]

CONGRATULATIONS MATTHEW HAYDEN
what an absolutely immaculate innings, it was an absolute privilege to listen to it on radio (unfortunately i was at work) as you bought up your 380
WELL DONE

[Donny]

Injury concerns for Australia as Zimbabwe stare at defeat
Lynn McConnell - October 11, 2003

Australia's march to victory over Zimbabwe wasn't derailed, but it was moved onto a siding during the last session of the third day when both Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill went off the field - and later to hospital for scans - with injuries. It was a situation Mark Vermeulen and Stuart Carlisle turned to their advantage as they went to stumps on 87 for 2, still 409 runs behind Australia.

Vermeulen, playing his fifth Test, scored his second half century, off 79 balls, in an innings where he accumulated runs against the lesser bowling of Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn. Carlisle was 26 not out at stumps.

MacGill left the field after bowling four balls of his fourth over in the second innings, feeling a twinge behind his right knee. He had taken 2 for 54 in the first innings. With Gillespie already off due to a slight side strain, and replaced in the field by Brad Williams, Tim Neilson, the Australian assistant coach, took to the field.

After the heady events of the second day when Matthew Hayden scaled Test match batting's highest peak, there was a much more realistic Test match atmosphere about the play as the Zimbabweans struggled to extend the match beyond four days. Until Gillespie and MacGill left the field with their injuries, that hope appeared misplaced.

Zimbabwe's hopes of a solid performance in their first innings were undone early in the day when Trevor Gripper was hit on the ear by Brett Lee. Two balls later, he was unable to keep down a sharp, rising ball which took the splice of his bat and flew to Darren Lehmann at gully. Gripper had just posted his half-century.

Vermeulen had shaped promisingly but fell to a splendid leg-spinner's delivery from MacGill which spun across him, took the edge of his bat and was taken at first slip by Matthew Hayden. It was a copy of the dismissal a little earlier of Carlisle. There was some resistance from the batsman of Zimbabwe's tour s0o far, Craig Wishart. He played some lovely shots straight and square on the off, especially against MacGill, but was undone by one of the better balls of the day from Andy Bichel. It moved a fraction to the off from the pitch and Wishart, attempting to play it off the back foot with his bat away from his body, caught the edge and the ball went through to Adam Gilchrist. He left for 46, and Zimbabwe were 199 for 5.

Once Gillespie removed Tatenda Taibu, trapping him leg before wicket for 15, the end came quickly. Brett Lee seized the chance to scythe through the lower-order, dismissing Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut off successive fast, swinging deliveries, while Gillespie bowled Ervine to end the innings at 239.

The Australians were not at their most penetrative, Lee rarely bowling at his most express pace, and Gillespie clearly affected by his injury. They were however consistently accurate and never under any pressure. Waugh was able to do without Lee's pace to break up partnerships which meant that when the final breakthrough came, Lee was still warmed up and able to start afresh in the second innings.

It was Gillespie who made the initial breakthrough when the follow-on was enforced, having Trevor Gripper out from the first ball he faced - a poor defensive shot that went off the edge to Gilchrist. Dion Ebrahim made just 4 before playing on to his stumps off Gillespie, leaving Zimbabwe 11 for 2. The Australian bowling was left enfeebled by the departure of both Gillespie and MacGill and Vermeulen and Carlisle were able to add 76 unbroken runs, and take the fight to another day. How long they extend the defiance is another matter altogether.

[Donny]

Lee, Lehmann and Bichel have each taken a wicket to have Zimbabwe on 5/119.

Vermeulen scored a good 63 and put on 99 for the third wicket with Carlisle (35).

[Donny]

Lehmann strikes again !! LOl. Evans played for the spin. What spin ?

[Donny]

At lunch, Zimbabwe are 7/156.

Lehmann and Bichel each took two wickets and Lee, one.

[Donny]

8/219. Irvine got a half century and Bichel has 3/47

[Donny]

9/247 as Lehmann tempts Blignaut and gets the stumping.

[Donny]

At stumps, and after rain had often interrupted play, Zimbabwe were 9/272 with Streak (42 n.o.) and Price (17 n.o.) grimly hanging on with the outside prospect of rain preventing any play tomorrow.

[Donny]

Streak and Price put on 74 for the last wicket before Bichel dismissed Price for 36, caught by Waugh. Streak was 71 n.o.

Bic took 4/63 and 6/125 for the Test and Gillespie, 5/58.