Cricket: Australia cruise to win over Zimbabwe

Australia made a winning start to its World Cup title defence after its bowlers ripped through the Zimbabwe batting order to seal a 91-run victory in Group A.

The four-time champions shrugged off a sluggish opening to the tournament with the bat as Mitchell Johnson claimed 4-19, Jason Krejza took 2-28 and Shaun Tait 2-34 to dismiss a Zimbabwe side which had made a positive start in the field.

Australia's batsmen struggled against Zimbabwe's spinners on the Sardar Patel Stadium pitch, despite half-centuries by Shane Watson (79) and Michael Clarke (58 not out).

A late rally, led by Clarke, was needed to reach 262-6 after Australia had been tied down by Zimbabwe and only passed 200 in the 45th over.

But a barrage of aggressive fast bowling from Johnson, Tait and Lee and some clever spinning from Krejza put the Aussies in control before Zimbabwe's run chase was finally halted at 171 all out in the 47th over.

Australia extended its winning streak at World Cups to 24 matches, and now hasn't lost at the event in 30 games.

"It wasn't a spectacular performance from us tonight, it was a good, solid performance," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who broke the appearance record at the World Cup with his 40th game. "We're working our way into the tournament and we know we have to improve in some areas.

"As the tournament goes on, we'll need to get better."

Batting first after winning the toss, Australia saw opener Brad Haddin crawl to 29 off 66 balls before he was out lbw to off-spinner Prosper Utseya.

Ponting was run out for 28, without hitting a boundary, before Watson and Clarke lifted his side to a respectable, but not impressive total. With Clarke leading the way, the Aussies added 55 in the last five overs in a late surge to task them past 260.

In Zimbabwe's reply, only Sean Williams and tailenders Utseya and Graeme Cremer passed 20 under an efficient — and at times brutal — bowling display from Australia, led by left-armer Johnson.

"I thought our bowling and fielding was excellent today," Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura said. "But we must work on our batting. The number of wickets we lost, we just couldn't come back from that."

Utseya and Cremer did combine for a 49-run stand for the eighth wicket but by then Zimbabwe's chance had gone and Australia swiftly stamped out any remote chance of an upset.

Openers Brendan Taylor and Charles Coventry both started with a degree of confidence, with Coventry powering a six off Lee in the fourth over and Taylor using the pace of the Aussie fast man to scoop a delivery over the slips for four.

But Coventry mistimed a pull and was caught and bowled by Lee who turned and took a high, swirling catch with his back to the batsman.

Tatenda Taibu's dismissal — caught at slip off Johnson — was the start of a slide of three wickets for four runs which tore the heart out of the Zimbabwe innings and effectively ended any hopes of a second ODI win over Australia in 28 matches.

Brendan Taylor was beaten by pace and bowled by Tait, while Craig Ervine was out lbw to Johnson for a duck — after an umpire decision referral.

Cremer top-scored with 37 but his resistance was ended and Zimbabwe finally capitulated when Mitchell stormed back into the attack toward the end to take two wickets and wrap up the tail.