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. Global ambitions Australia (first innings) 735-6 decl (M Hayden 380, A Gilchrist 113 no, S Waugh 78, D Martyn 53; S Ervine (4-146) Zimbabwe (first innings)239 (T Gripper 53) Zimbabwe (second innings) (Overnight 272-9)H Streak not out 71, R Price c Waugh b Bichel 36 Extras: (b-4, lb-6, w-5, nb-6) 21 Total: (All out) 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 (nb-3, w-2), Gillespie 3-0-6-2, MacGill 3.4-1-10-0, Bichel 28.2-15-63-4 (nb-3), Lehmann 31.2-15-61-3, Martyn 13-5-34-0, Waugh 8-2-26-0 (w-3), Ponting 5-1-5-0 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. 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. The second Test of the two-match series starts in Sydney on Friday.(Reuters) Uncapped duo for second Test MELBOURNE: Australia named uncapped pacemen Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken and recalled Brad Hogg and Simon Katich for Friday’s second Test against Zimbabwe in Sydney. Jason Gillespie was ruled out with a side strain while leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and batsman Darren Lehmann were named in the squad subject to fitness checks.
