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Bichel seals win for Australia

October 13, 2003 16:16 IST

Andy Bichel clinched victory by an innings and 175 runs for Australia by taking the final Zimbabwe wicket before lunch on the fifth day of the first Test in Perth on Monday.

Zimbabwe, aided by a 74-minute rain delay on Sunday, had reached 272 for nine at the close of the fourth day.

Captain Heath Streak and tailender Ray Price further frustrated Australia with a 74-run partnership for the last wicket on Monday.

Spinner Price, playing in his 13th Test, made a career-best 36 before he was caught by a diving Steve Waugh at mid-off from the bowling of Bichel as Zimbabwe were finally bowled out for 321 in the second innings.

Streak, who batted for four-and-a-half hours and hit his ninth half-century, was unbeaten on 71 including 10 fours.

Zimbabwe were skittled out for 239 in their first innings in reply to Australia's huge 735 for six, led by Matthew Hayden's world record 380.

The second match in the two-Test series is in Sydney starting on Friday.

Seamer Bichel (four for 63) and part-time spinner Darren Lehmann (three for 61) captured seven wickets between them while express paceman Brett Lee took one for 96 from 35 overs.

SYDNEY SQUAD

The fiery Lee will need to lift his performance in Sydney in the absence of Glenn McGrath, who had ankle surgery last week, and Jason Gillespie, who injured a side muscle during the first Test.

Australia named a squad of 14 on Monday for the second Test, resting Gillespie and including leg spinner Stuart MacGill despite doubts over the calf strain which restricted him to 3.4 overs in the second innings in Perth.

Lehmann is also doubtful for Sydney because of heel soreness.

Australia captain Waugh enforced the follow-on but had to use eight bowlers after half of his frontline attack broke down with injuries.

Price survived a caught and bowled appeal by Lehmann in the 10th over on Monday and Streak was bowled by Lee in the next over, but the fast bowler held his head in his hands in despair as he was called for a no-ball.

Zimbabwe clung to faint hopes of a draw by batting through the first 15 overs before an 18-minute rain delay. But the hard-working Bichel was mobbed by team mates after making the breakthrough in the 23rd over of the day.

Scoreboard:

Australia first innings: 735-6 declared

Zimbabwe first innings: 239

Zimbabwe second innings:
D.Ebrahim b Gillespie 4
T.Gripper c Gilchrist b Gillespie 0
M.Vermeulen c Gilchrist b Lee 63
S.Carlisle c Hayden b Lehmann 35
C.Wishart lbw b Bichel 8
C.Evans b Lehmann 5
T.Taibu c Gilchrist b Bichel 3
S.Ervine b Bichel 53
H.Streak not out 71
A.Blignaut st Gilchrist b Lehmann 22
R.Price c Waugh b Bichel 36

Extras: (b-4 lb-6 w-5 nb-6) 21

Total: 321

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-11, 3-110, 4-112, 5-118, 6-126, 7-126, 8-209, 9-247.

Bowling: Lee 35-8-96-1, Gillespie 3-0-6-2, MacGill 3.4-1-10-0, Bichel 28.2-15-63-4, Lehmann 31.2-15-61-3, Martyn 13-5-34-0, Waugh 8-2-26-0, Ponting 5-1-15-0.


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