Australian pace trio crush Zimbabwe

Champions Australia softened up a resolute Zimbabwe with fiery pace and bounce to kick start their World Cup campaign with a resounding 91-run victory on Monday.

Australia's speed merchants Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson (four for 19) regularly hit the 145 kph mark to reduce Zimbabwe to 44 for four within 13 overs, from which the African nation never recovered and they were all out for 171.

While Lee and Tait resorted to the short pitch stuff, Johnson kept it full and fast to torment the Zimbabwean batsmen.

Image: Australian captain Ricky Ponting, left, talks to teammate Brett Lee after winning the match against Zimbabwe in their opening game of cricket's World Cup at Ahmadabad, India, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.

Text: Reuters

Images: AP

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