Cricket: Lehmann's late assault lifts Australia

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa - A dramatic display of hitting by Darren Lehmann lifted Australia to an impressive total of 301 for six in their World Cup Group A match against Namibia on Thursday (South African time).

Lehmann clouted a World Cup record 28 runs off the final over of the innings bowled by medium-pacer Rudi van Vuuren, bringing up his half-century from just 31 balls.

It meant Australia were well placed to record their 11th straight one-day win, which would equal the mark set by West Indies in the 1980s.

Lehmann's cameo, which included two sixes and four fours in the final over, partly masked a patchy Australian batting display as the world champions put practice first after their captain Ricky Ponting won the toss.

Matthew Hayden (88), Andrew Symonds (59) and Damien Martyn (35) had lengthy stays at the crease, while Michael Bevan had his first innings of the tournament and responded with 17 from 42 balls.

However, none of those players was able to go on and reach three figures against a side playing in their first World Cup with four straight defeats behind them.

The reasons for those failures were some casual cricket by the world champions, a slower-than-expected pitch that made stroke-play difficult and some disciplined bowling and fielding by Namibia.

Both Hayden and Symonds were in the process of taking charge when they were out.

Hayden, having taken time to play himself in as he reached his first 50 of the tournament in 54 balls, then cut loose and plundered his next 38 runs from just 18 balls before being bowled by Louis Burger's medium pace.

Symonds, too, looked in commanding form in his first innings since his memorable 143 not out against Pakistan in Australia's first match of the tournament.

The powerful all rounder added 84 for the fourth wicket with Martyn and looked set to launch Australia's late charge when a mix-up left both players at the same end and Symonds on his way back to the pavilion.


LATE ASSAULT

Martyn fell later in the 43rd over and at 231 for six Australia looked unlikely to reach 300 until Lehmann's late assault, which brought him two sixes and four fours in the final over.

Apart from Van Vuuren, whose 10 overs cost 92 runs to give him the fourth most expensive bowling figures in one-day international history, the rest of the Namibia attack was tidy on a slow surface that inhibited strokeplay.

Louis Burger was the pick, his figures of three for 39 including the wickets of Hayden, Bevan and Ponting, who made just two before he sliced a cut shot to backward point.

Australia made one late change to their line-up with Jason Gillespie missing the match due to soreness around his right Achilles. Gillespie was replaced by Andy Bichel but his absence was described by a team spokesman as merely precautionary.

- REUTERS

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