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31-Aug-2014 15:15:00 GMT
Zimbabwe v Australia, Tri-series, Harare

Zimbabwe End 31-year Wait Beat Aussies

Harare: Chigumbura along with Utseya took Zimbabwe to historic victory against Australia after 1983 World Cup.

The end could hardly have been more emphatic, and was delivered fittingly by their number-one spinner Prosper Utseya in partnership with his skipper.

Utseya, who had joined forces with captain Elton Chigumbiura in the final 10 overs to fashion a nerveless eighth-wicket stand of 55, crowned the moment when he clubbed Mitchell Starc beyond the mid-wicket boundary with five runs needed.

Earlier, Michael Clarke scored a half-century, but was forced to retire hurt as Australia limped to 209 for 9 against Zimbabwe. 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.

He had won the toss and elected to bat on the most spin-friendly pitch of the series so far, and watched from one end as his team slid to 57 for 4, with all four wickets falling to spin. Clarke dug in and shared a stand of 40 for the fifth wicket with Mitchell Marsh and then added 50 with Brad Haddin before his injury forced him from the field.

Australia's predicament could have been even worse had Marsh not been dropped first ball, or if Haddin had been caught off one of the three chances that he offered. Those missed opportunities cost Zimbabwe dearly when Haddin went on to hit 49 as Australia took 55 runs from the last five overs, with Ben Cutting contributing 26.

Cutting and Haddin both fell in the final over, forcing Clarke to return to the field for the final two deliveries, which included a huge six by No. 11 Nathan Lyon. Zimbabwe used four spinners in the innings, who took a combined 6 for 117 in 36 overs, with Sean Williams's figures of 2 for 21 in 10 overs the pick of the lot.

Earlier, Australia have won the toss and have opted to bat..

Zimbabwe have made one change - Donald Tiripano replaces Brian Vitori.

Michael Clarke had announced his XI yesterday itself, as he comes back, after recovering from his hamstring injury, in place of Steven Smith. Mitchell Johnson has been rested for Nathan Lyon and Ben Cutting comes in place of Kane Richardson. 

Teams:

Zimbabwe:
Tino Mawoyo, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura (Capt.), Malcolm Waller, Prosper Utseya, Donald Tiripano, John Nyumbu, Tendai Chatara

Australia: Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Clarke (Capt.), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin (wk), James Faulkner, Ben Cutting, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon

Brief scores
Australia -
209/9 (Clarke 68*, Haddin 49)
Zimbabwe - 211/7 (Chigumbura 52*, Lyon 4-44)
Result - Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
Points - Zimbabwe 4, Australia 0


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