MELBOURNE, Jan 26: Australia cruised to a 13-run victory over Zimbabwe in the triangular series one-day match at the Adelaide Oval on Monday.
Zimbabwe opener Grant Flower, who made 94, was the only major stumbling block for the world champions who posted 279 for seven in their 50 overs courtesy of half-centuries from Michael Bevan and captain Ricky Ponting.
Sean Ervine (33) and all-rounder Andy Blignaut (31 not out from 22 balls) took the fight to the Australians while captain Heath Streak made 28 after taking three for 45.
Australia, on 28 points, and India, with 23, have already qualified for the best-of-three finals. Zimbabwe have lost all six of their matches. Ponting hit a quickfire 63 off 71 balls while Bevan, elevated to number four, paced the middle part of the innings with a controlled 75 from 91 balls.
Middle-order batsman Damien Martyn, with 69 runs from his previous five innings in the series, was promoted to open with Matthew Hayden after Adam Gilchrist was rested.
The West Australian, however, failed again when he fell to a juggling catch at cover by Dion Ebrahim for nine off Streak. Ponting dominated a 59-run stand with Hayden before the big left-hander was caught at point by Ebrahim off Blignaut for 20 at 84 for two.
Ponting hit 11 boundaries and appeared set for a hundred but the Tasmanian was run out by Blignaut in the 24th over. Michael Clarke and one-day specialist Bevan then took few risks in a 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Clarke, on 34, was Australia's second run out after a quick return from Flower at point.
Bevan holed out to long-off in the 44th over before wicket-keeper Brad Haddin (14) and Andrew Symonds, who clipped 34 from 30 balls, both fell in the final over to Streak.
Zimbabwe's decision to ask pint-sized wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu to solve their problems at the top of the order was a failure when the vice-captain was bowled by Brad Williams for nine at 29 for one.
Paceman Brett Lee bowled Travis Friend for eight and Stuart Carlisle, on 15, fell victim to Williams when he top-edged a pull shot to mid-off. Ervine was caught at long-off from the bowling of left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg after a 69-run stand with Flower, who flashed at a wide ball from Jason Gillespie and was caught behind at 169 for five in the 37th over after hitting seven boundaries.
Spinner Andrew Symonds had Ebrahim stumped for 11 and Streak caught and bowled while Stuart Matsikenyeri was bowled by Clarke for five as Zimbabwe's batsmen tried to smash some boundaries and get themselves back into the contest. Australia will host Zimbabwe in Melbourne on Thursday.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA:
M.L. Hayden c Ebrahim b Blignaut 20
D.R. Martyn c Ebrahim b Streak 9
R.T. Ponting run out 63
M.G. Bevan c Ervine b Hondo 75
M.J. Clarke run out 36
A. Symonds c Hondo b Streak 34
B.J. Haddin lbw b Streak 14
G.B. Hogg not out 1
B. Lee not out 6
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-9, W-9, NB-2) 21
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 279
FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-84, 3-128, 4-205, 5-230, 6-271, 7-272.
DID NOT BAT: J.N. Gillespie, B.A. Williams.
BOWLING: Streak 10-0-45-3 (1nb, 2w); Blignaut 9-0-53-1 (1nb, 6w); Ervine 5-0-41-0 (1w); Hondo 6-0-45-1; Price 10-0-40-0; Flower 10-0-45-0.
ZIMBABWE:
T. Taibu b Williams 9
G.W. Flower c Haddin b Gillespie 94
T.J. Friend b Lee 8
S.V. Carlisle c sub b Williams 15
S.M. Ervine c Lee b Hogg 33
H.H. Streak c and b Symonds 28
D.D. Ebrahim st Haddin b Symonds 11
S. Matsikenyeri b Clarke 5
A.M. Blignaut not out 31
R.W. Price not out 13
EXTRAS (B-11, LB-1, W-5, NB-2) 19
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 266
FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-55, 3-90, 4-159, 5-169, 6-191, 7-206, 8-229.
DID NOT BAT: D.T. Hondo.
BOWLING: Gillespie 10-2-40-1 (1nb, 1w); Lee 8-0-32-1 (1nb, 1w); Williams 8-1-38-2; Hogg 10-0-40-1 (2w); Clarke 7-0-57-1 (1w); Symonds 7-0-47-2.
RESULT: Australia won by 13 runs.
UMPIRES: S.J. Davis (Australia) and S.A. Bucknor (West Indies).
TV UMPIRE: D.J. Harper (Australia).
MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Grant Flower.
NEXT MATCH: Australia v Zimbabwe, in Melbourne (D/N), Jan 29.-Reuters