Zimbabwe stun Australia, beat them after 31 years
Harare, Aug. 31: Elton Chigumbura hit an unbeaten half- century as Zimbabwe pulled off a shock three wicket win over Australia in a one- day triangular series match on Sunday.
Chigumbura finished on 52 not out as Zimbabwe chased down a target of 210 to win with two overs to spare to record just their second ever victory over Australia.
Zimbabwe’s only previous win over the Australians was at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup.
Earlier, Michael Clarke scored a half- century, but was forced to retire hurt as Australia limped to 209/ 9.
Clarke’s hamstring injury had kept him out of Australia’s first two games of the series, which also involves South Africa, and it flared up again in the course of his 68.
The Australian captain looked uncomfortable for large parts of his innings, but the injury became a real problem after he tweaked the left hamstring completing a second run in the 40th over.
Clarke continued to bat until the 43rd over, when it became clear that his difficulties between the wickets were hampering Australia’s bid for some much- needed late runs.
SCOREBOARD Australia: A. Finch b Nyumbu 11, P. Hughes c Nyumbu b Utseya 10, M. Clarke ( not out) 68, G. Bailey b Williams 1, G. Maxwell b Waller 13, M. Marsh c Utseya b Tiripano 15, B. Haddin c Waller b Tiripano 49, J. Faulkner c Nyumbu b Utseya 0, M. Starc b Williams 3, B. Cutting ( run out) 26, N. Lyon ( not out) 8. Extras: ( 2lb, 3w) 5. Total: ( for 9 wkts, in 50 overs) 209. FoW: 1- 11, 2- 38, 3- 39, 4- 57, 5- 97, 5- 147, 6- 147, 7- 150, 8201, 9- 202. Bowling: Chatara 8- 0- 560, Nyumbu 10- 1- 30- 1, Utseya 10- 0- 45- 2, Tiripano 6- 1- 34- 2, Williams 10- 2- 212, Waller 6- 0- 21- 1. Zimbabwe: T. Mawoyo b Lyon 15, Sikandar Raza c sub b Lyon 22, H. Masakadza b Starc 18, B. Taylor b Lyon 32, M. Waller c & b Maxwell 11, S. Williams c Clarke b Lyon 4, E. Chigumbura ( not out) 52, D. Tiripano b Starc 3, P. Utseya ( not out) 30. Extras: ( 2b, 3lb, 18w, 1nb) 24. Total: ( for 7 wkts, in 48 overs) 211. FoW: 1- 42, 2- 44, 3- 100, 4102, 5- 106, 6- 142, 7- 156. Bowling: Starc 10- 3- 41- 2, Marsh 4- 2- 13- 0, Cutting 60- 18- 0, Faulkner 7- 0- 28- 0, Lyon 10- 1- 44- 4, Finch 2- 019- 0, Maxwell 8- 0- 41- 1, Clarke 1- 0- 2- 0.