DECEMBER 2000 SPORT HEADLINES

Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - Web posted at 9:36:14 AM GMT

Australia thrash Zimbabwe by eight wickets

MELBOURNE - Darren Lehmann made 92 not out as Australia hammered Zimbabwe by eight wickets in their limited overs international on Sunday.

Australia made 226 for two off 36,5 overs after Zimbabwe won the toss and batted first, scoring 223 for nine in their 50 overs.

Australian captain Adam Gilchrist smashed 39 off 29 balls in an opening stand of 54 with Lehmann before Gilchrist was caught at point in the eighth over by Brian Murphy off the bowling of Travis Friend.

The left-handed Lehmann, the Man of the Match, faced 104 balls and hit nine fours while Ricky Ponting made a dashing 68 off 73 balls with seven fours, sharing a second-wicket partnership of 144 in 150 balls with Lehmann.

Ponting was run out by a whisker in the 33rd over, giving him an aggregate of 244 runs at 81,33 in the series so far.

Earlier, Zimbabwe had won the toss and batted.

The top six batsmen all got starts but the only significant score came from Grant Flower at number five who made 51 off 78 balls.

Zimbabwe's top batsman Andy Flower was out caught off a reverse sweep for 23 at 117 for four in the 31st over.

Medium-pacer Ian Harvey (4-28) and keg-spinner Shane Warne (2-21) put the brakes on Zimbabwe who had started brightly with 50 runs without loss in the first eight overs.

Australia lead the triangular series with four wins from four matches while Zimbabwe are at the bottom with two losses from two outings.

West Indies have won one out of four.

- Nampa-Reuters

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