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| Wednesday, 12 February 2003 |
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Cricket-World-Impressive Australia sound Cup warning JOHANNESBURG, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Australia crushed Pakistan by 82 runs in their World Cup Group A opener, responding like world champions to Shane Warne's dramatic departure from the tournament earlier on Tuesday. Inspired by a magnificent century from unlikely hero Andrew Symonds, the Australians recovered from a poor start to stun the Pakistanis in a one-sided repeat of the 1999 World Cup final. Symonds arrived at the crease with his side reeling at 86 for four, but his faultless unbeaten 143 lifted Australia to a total of 310 for eight before they bowled out Pakistan for 228. It was Symonds's first international century, only the third time in 55 matches he had passed 50 and the highest individual one-day score by an Australian. Victory was the perfect tonic for Ricky Ponting's team who were rocked by Wasim Akram's opening burst shortly after the news broke that Warne, their talismanic leg spinner, would be flying home after failing a drugs test. Wasim removed Adam Gilchrist in his second over before striking twice in two balls to dismiss the dangerous Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn. Jimmy Maher's departure increased Australian woes but Ponting, playing a captain's innings, and Symonds added 60 for the fifth wicket to pull their side round. Ponting fell to Shoaib Akhtar for a brave 53 but Brad Hogg helped Symonds add 70 before the latter cut loose in the final overs. Symonds struck two sixes and 15 fours in 125 deliveries, so incensing Waqar Younis that the Pakistan captain bowled him a fierce beamer and was ordered out of the attack by umpire David Shepherd. Pakistan never threatened to reach their target, losing wickets at regular intervals after Jason Gillespie removed Shahid Afridi for one. Symonds produced a fine diving catch on the mid-wicket boundary to send back Yousuf Youhana for 27, and Rashid Latif and Wasim, with 33 each, were Pakistan's top-scorers in a disappointing batting effort. McGrath ended the match with a stunning catch to dismiss Waqar. All Australia's bowlers chipped in, spinner Brad Hogg and Ian Harvey claiming four wickets and McGrath producing a typically miserly spell at the start of the innings when he bowled his 10 overs straight through for 39 runs and the prize wicket of Inzamam-ul-Haq. Australia A. Gilchrist c Waqar Younis b Wasim Akram 1 M. Hayden b Wasim Akram 27 R. Ponting c Taufeeq Umar b Shoaib Akhtar 53 D. Martyn b Wasim Akram 0 J. Maher c Rashid Latif b Waqar Younis 9 A. Symonds not out 143 B. Hogg run out 14 I. Harvey c Waqar Younis b Shoaib Akhtar 24 B. Lee c Inzamam-ul-Haq b Waqar Younis 2 J. Gillespie not out 6 Extras (b-1 lb-9 w-12 nb-9) 31 Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 310 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-52, 3-52, 4-86 5-146, 6-216, 7-270, 8-292 Did not bat: Glenn McGrath Bowling: Wasim Akram 10-0-64-3, Shoaib Akhtar 10-0-45-2, Waqar Younis 8.3-1-50-2, Abdur Razzaq 6-0-42-0, Shahid Afridi 9.3-0-63-0, Younis Khan 6-0-36-0 Pakistan Taufeeq Umar c Hogg b Lee 21 Shahid Afridi c Gilchrist b Gillespie 1 Saleem Elahi c Lee b Harvey 30 Inzamam-ul-Haq c Gilchrist b McGrath 6 Yousuf Youhana c Symonds b Harvey 27 Younis Khan c Ponting b Hogg 19 Abdul Razzaq c & b Hogg 25 R.Latif b Hogg 33 W.Akram c Ponting b Harvey 33 W.Younis c McGrath b Harvey 6 S.Akhtar not out 0 Extras (b-3 lb-9 w-10 nb-5) 27 Total (all out, 44.3 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-38, 3-49, 4-81, 5-103 6-125 7-147 8-201, 9-223 Bowling: McGrath 10-2-39-1 (w-1), Gillespie 8-1-28-1 (w-3), Lee 7-0-37-1 (nb-5), Harvey 9.3-0-58-4 (w-3), Hogg 10-0-54-3 (w-3) Note: Pakistan innings reduced to 49 overs Result: Australia win by 82 runs |
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