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AUS win 2 - 0 AUS gains 4 points; ZIM loses 4 points
Draw 1 - 1 ZIM gains 11 points; AUS loses 11points
ZIM win 2 - 0 ZIM gains 26 points; AUS loses 26 points
Perth
9 - 13 October 2003
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.� After Australia got off to a flying start at over six runs per over, Zimbabwe struck back and bowled Langer (26) at 1 for 43.� However, that was Zimbabwe's only success as Australia batted through to be in the better position at 1 for 93 at lunch.� Zimbabwe trapped Ponting (37) in the half hour after lunch and then shortly before tea, the tourists caught Martyn (53) before Australia went to tea at 3 for 199 with control of the match.� Australia then batted through to stumps without losing further wickets and with Hayden posting his 15th Test century, Australia ended the day at 3 for 372 and had shut Zimbabwe out of contention.
Australia resumed the punishment on the second morning and took their total to 406 before Waugh (78) was dismissed.� Hayden passed his second Test double century before Zimbabwe dismissed Lehmann (30) at 5 for 502.� By lunch, Hayden was not out on 271 (on the sixth highest Australian Test innings) and within sight of the Australian record innings of 334 with the total 5 for 554 and Zimbabwe merely going through the motions.� After lunch, Hayden raced passed 300, the Australian record, Sober's 365 and Lara's 375 while Gilchrist passed his century.� At tea, Australia was 5 for 731, Waugh allowed Hayden the chance to go for 400 after tea, however, after taking his total to 380, Hayden was caught in the deep and Australia declared at 6 for 735 - the highest Australian score on home soil.� Ervine was the most successful bowler with 4 for 146 off 31 overs.� Zimbabwe began their reply well and took the score to 61 before Ebrahim (29) was bowled and at stumps, the score was 1 for 79 with another 457 runs needed to avoid the follow on.
Australia broke through three time during the third morning and dismissed Gripper (53), Carlisle (2) and Vermeulen (38) before Zimbabwe went to lunch at 4 for 157.� Zimbabwe took their score to 199 before going on to lose their final six wickets for only 40 more runs.� Zimbabwe was all out at tea for 239 after Wishart (46), Evans (22), Taibu (15), Streak (9), Blignaut (0) and Ervine (6) were dismissed.� The bowling honours were shared by Gillespie (3 for 52 off 25.3 overs) and Lee (3 for 48 off 15 overs).� Waugh had no hesitation in enforcing the follow on and Zimbabwe began the unlikely task of scoring another 496 to force the home side to bat again after tea.� Australia dismissed Gripper (0) and Ebrahim (4) during the evening session and at stumps, Zimbabwe was 2 for 87.
Australia tore through the Zimbabwean batsmen during the fourth morning, despite both Gillespie and MacGill being unable to bowl through injury.� Australia dismissed vermeulen (63), Carlisle (35), Wishart (8), Taibu (3) and Evans (5) before Zimbabwe limped to lunch with only three wickets left.� Australia struggled to make inroads after lunch and Zimbabwe lost only the wicket of Ervine (53) before going to tea.� Rain interrupted the evening session and with showers forecast for the final day, Zimbabwe suddenly looked to the prospect of a draw if they could occupy the crease.� Australia managed to dismiss Blignuut (22) before Zimbabwe ended the day early at 9 for 272.
With showers threatening, Zimbabwe attempted to hold on to their final wicket long enough for the weather to help them home to an unlikely draw.� They managed to take the total to 321 before losing their final wicket in the 23rdth over of the morning, giving Australia victory by an innings and 175 runs.� Bichel was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 63 off 28.2 overs.
Second Test
Sydney
17 - 21 October 2003
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first.� Australia broke through three times to dismiss Ebrahim (9), Gripper (15) and Vermeulen (17) to have Zimbabwe 3 for 47.� However, Zimbabwe then consolidated and batted through to be 3 for 86 at lunch.� While Carlisle posted his eighth Test fifty, Zimbabwe continued to lose wickets through the afternoon session as Wishart (14) and Taibu (27) were dismissed.� At tea, Zimbabwe was 5 for 164.� Australia dismissed Streak (14), Ewing (2) and Carlisle (118) during the evening session before Zimbabwe ended the day at 8 for 256 with Australia holding the better position.
Australia took 18 overs on the second morning to dismiss Price (20) and Mahwire (6) leaving Blignaut not out on 38 from an innings total of 308 runs.� Bichel was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 66 off 24.2 overs.� Australia then began their reply by losing Langer (2) at 1 for 7 before going to lunch at 1 for 31.� Zimbabwe fought to stay in the match during the afternoon session and dismissed Hayden (20) and Martyn (32).� At tea, Australia was 3 for 162.� Australia struck back during the evening session and batted until bad light stopped play without losing further wickets.� Ponting posted his 18th Test century and at stumps, the Australia was 3 for 245, only 63 runs in arrears.
Zimbabwe struck early on the third morning and dismissed Waugh (61) then consolidated their position by dismissing Ponting (169) and Gilchrist (20) before Australia went to lunch at 6 for 360.� The afternoon session was crucial for Zimbabwe's chances, as they had to limit the lead to have any chance in the match.� Zimbabwe stepped up and dismissed Hogg (13), Katich (52), Bichel (5) and Williams (7) to have Australia all out for 403 and a 95 run first innings lead.� Zimbabwe had taken the final six wickets for only 97 runs with Price taking 6 for 121 off 41.3 overs.� Australia struck in the first over to send Ebrahim (0) back to the pavilion at 1 for 0.� However, Zimbabwe then scored quickly to be 1 for 56 at tea.� With the match in the balance, Australia fought their way back to hold a slight advantage after dismissing Vermeulen (48), Carlisle (5) and Gripper (47) within the space of 21 runs to have Zimbabwe 4 for 114.� By the time bad light again stopped play early, Zimbabwe was 4 for 151 with an overall lead of 56 runs.
Zimbabwe needed extend their lead beyond 200 on the fourth morning to have any chance of winning the match.� Australia dismissed Wishart (45) when the lead was 81 runs and then Zimbabwe began to self destruct after Streak (25) was run out, Ewing (0) and Taibu (35) were caught and at lunch, Zimbabwe was 8 for 243 with an overall lead of only 148 runs.� Straight after lunch, Australia dismissed Price (0) and Blignaut (44) to have Zimbabwe all out for 266 leaving a final innings target of 172 runs for victory.� Katich was the best of the bowlers with career best figures of 6 for 65 off 25.5 overs.� Zimbabwe dismissed Langer (8) at 1 for 21 before Australia went to tea at 1 for 107.� Hayden (101*) posted his 16th Test century with a six to draw level with Zimbabwe before Ponting (56*) struck the winning runs and giving Australia a nine-wicket victory that did not reflect the closeness of the Test until lunch.
