http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 A – Australia A’s tour of Zimbabwe - Day 4’s Recap
After ending the third day on 134 runs for the loss of three wickets, the hosts, Zimbabwe XI, began their innings on the fourth and final day, on July 18, 2011, against Australia A, at the Country Club, Harare, hoping to post enough runs on the board to
draw the game.
With established batsmen like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Keegan-Orry-Meth-c70550 on the crease, the hosts had every chance to end the game in a draw and leave the Australians victory less in a match which had been dominated by the Aussies.
However, before the hosts could actually pose a serious threat, they lost their first wicket of the day when the tally on the board was 145 runs. Meth was the man to go as he was adjudged leg-before wicket, trapped right in front of the stumps on a bolting
delivery by medium-pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Marsh-c1974.
In his next over, the 19-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CR-Ervine-c1286, who lost his wicket without adding a run in his side’s tally.
With Ervine gone the Australians could smell a victory, while the hosts could see the possibility of a draw slipping from their grasp.
It was then Masakadza and the 25-year-old all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/E-Chigumbura-c1411, who stood defiant against the Australian onslaught as they formed a formidable partnership to rally the home side towards a face saving outcome of the match.
The two batsmen, without taking too many chances smacked the Aussies all over the park, exhibiting commendable strokes.
After the two batsmen had added 102 runs for the 6th wicket partnership, Masakadza lost his wicket on 91, missing a well deserved ton as he was caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Trent-Copeland-c2709. With Masakadza out of
the way, the tourists had their tails up and aimed to go for the kill.
Next to walk back to the pavilion was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MN-Waller-c1989, who, on the penultimate delivery of the 90th over, was adjudged leg-before wicket after being trapped in front of the stumps by Copeland. The batsman scored 12 runs off 27 deliveries.
With Chigumbura still on the wicket, Zimbabwe needed someone to hold the other end while he kept the scoreboard ticking; however, the batting side lacked the sting in their tail to cope with the bowling they were up against, as wickets kept falling.
The 21-year-old pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gordon-James-Muchall-c60376 for him to handle as he lost his nerve on the last delivery of the 93rd over, after scoring six runs off 13 deliveries.
His wicket was claimed by Siddle, when Marsh pounced on a catch.
The 100th over proved fatal for the inform Chigumbura, who lost his wicket on the second delivery of the over when he was stumped by skipper/wicketkeeper Timothy David Paine, off a delivery by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Anthony-Beer-c75754. At the end of their innings,
the hosts scored only 346 runs, giving the Australians a target of 138 to win.
With a meagre total in their sights, the Australians started their innings confidently, aiming to go one up in the series by taking the first match. Openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301 gave a stand of 86 runs in the second innings, literally
making things easy for the batsmen to come after.
Hughes scored 32 runs off 54 deliveries while Warner smacked 82 runs off 57 deliveries, the latter’s innings included nine boundaries and two sixes as he ripped apart the Zimbabwean bowling attack.
Later, the middle-order batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TD-Paine-c2652 who took the home side to victory as Australian A won the game by seven wickets.
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