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Ahmedabad: Mitchell Johnson took 4 wickets as Australia opened their World Cup title defence with a 91-run victory over Zimbabwe at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Australia compiled an under-par 262 for 6 from their 50 overs at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, led by contributions from Shane Watson (79 from 92 balls) and Michael Clarke (58 not out), before dismissing Zimbabwe for 171 in the 47th over.
The bowling attack was led by pace spearheads Mitchell Johnson (4-19) and Shaun Tait (2-34), while spinner Jason Krezja returned a handy 2-28 from eight overs.
Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting had no hesitation electing to bat after winning the toss, but pre-match expectations of a 300-plus total dissipated following a watchful opening partnership between Watson and Brad Haddin.
The pair worked their way to 0-61 at less than four runs an over before Haddin (29 from 66 balls) was trapped in front by off-spinner Prosper Utseya in the 19th over.
Watson upped the tempo with Ponting on deck, bringing up his half-century with a crunching back-foot cover drive off Brendan Taylor and a massive hoick over the midwicket fence off Graeme Cremer.
But the opener departed just as the run-rate climbed above four an over, struck on his front pad by a flat fizzer from the Zimbabwe leggie.
Ponting followed soon after for 28, caught well short of his ground by a brilliant direct hit from the deep as the Aussies slumped to 144-3 in the 33rd over. Cameron White (22 from 36 balls) looked unsettled in his short stay at the crease before being clean-bowled by seamer Chris Mpofu.
The final five overs provided some brighter moments for the Aussies, with Michael Clarke notching his third consecutive one-day international half-century by twice dispatching Mpofu to the boundary.
David Hussey (14 from eight balls) thumped Sean Williams back over his head for six before being skittled by slow left-armer Price, and Steve Smith (11 from four balls) was just as bullish in his short stay at the crease.
Mpofu was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers with 2-58 from nine overs, while Ray Price (1-43), Utseya (1-43) and Cremer (1-41) were tidy.
In reply, Zimbabwe got off to a bright start through Chris Coventry (14), who flashed Brett Lee to the cover boundary and square drove the quick over the same fence in his next over.
But Lee would have the last laugh, running back with the flight to take a simple return catch after Coventry top-edged a pull shot into the air in the sixth over.
Johnson and Shaun Tait combined for a quick flurry of wickets to reduce Zimbabwe to 4-44, sparked by Tatenda Taibu's late glance straight to Watson at first slip off Johnson on 7.
Sean Williams (28) and skipper Elton Chigumbura (14) combined for a 44-run union that was broken when Krejza dismissed the latter. Williams soon followed at Tait's hand and Regis Chakabva (6) played the wrong line to a Krejza skidder and was caught LBW.
But with Zimbabwe up against it at 7-104 the Aussies seemed to clock off early, allowing Cremer (37) and Utseya (24) to rack up a 49-run stay before Hussey (1-12) got the breakthrough to remove Utseya.
Johnson was brought back into the attack and wrapped up the tail, sending Cremer on his way and dismissing Mpofu (2) with 22 balls to spare.
Brief scores
Australia 262 for 6 (Watson 79, Clarke 58*, Mpofu 2-58)
Zimbabwe 171 (Cremer 37, Johnson 4-19, Tait 2-34)
Results Australia won by 91 runs
MOM Shane Watson (Australia)
Points Australia 2, Zimbabwe 0
