Statistical highlights

Australia vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo

• Jason Gillespie was appearing in his 50th match. He becomes the 39th Australian and the 265th player in limited over internationals to reach this landmark.
• Andy Flower was appearing in his 16th match against Australia, making him the Zimbabwe player with the most appearances against the Aussies.
• During his knock of 62 Andy Flower became Zimbabwe's highest run-getter in the World Cup. He went past the tally of 567 runs (in 20 matches) by Dave Houghton. Flower now has 606 runs in 25 World Cup matches.
• The 25-ball fifty by Andy Blignaut (54) was the fastest by a Zimbabwe batsman in the World Cup. The previous fastest for Zimbabwe in the World Cup was the 32-ball fifty by Andrew Waller against Sri Lanka at New Plymouth on 23-2-1992.
• Blignaut's 50 was the second fastest by a Zimbabwean batsman in LOIs after the 21-ball effort by Douglas Marillier against India at Faridabad on 7-3-2002. It was also the second quickest by any batsman against Australia after the 21-ball fifty by Kiwi Lance Cairns at Melbourne on 13-2-1983.
• Blignaut's 54 was the fourth highest by any batsman while batting at number eight in the World Cup. West Indian Deryck Murray's unbeaten 61 against Pakistan at Birmingham on 11-6-1975 remains the highest in the World Cup by a batsman at a number eight. However Blignaut obliterates the previous best score by a Zimbabwean batsman at this position in the World Cup, which was the unbeaten 34 by Iain Butchart also against Australia at Nottingham on 9-6-1983.
• The 84-run stand between the Flower brothers -- Andy & Grant -- was Zimbabwe's best for the 3rd wicket against the Australians in the World Cup. The siblings went past the previous best of 31 runs between Jack Heron and Andy Pycroft at Nottingham on 9-6-1983.
• The partnership of 34 runs between Tatenda Taibu and Heath Streak was Zimbabwe's best for the 8th wicket against Australia superceding the previous best of 32 runs between Streak and Mluleki Nkala at Melbourne at 21-1-2001. The Taibu-Streak stand was also Zimbabwe's best against the Aussies in the World Cup for the 8th wicket. Butchart and Peter Rawson had earlier put on 27 runs for this wicket at Madras on 13-10-1987.
• During his unbeaten knock of 28 runs Streak, when on 14, became the sixth Zimbabwean and the 105th batsman in LOIs to aggregate 2000 runs. Playing in his 152nd match and 126th innings of his career Streak now had 2014 runs (avg. 24.56) to his credit.
• Streak (2014 runs + 186 wickets) became the 27th all-rounder in LOIs to do the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets. He also becomes the 19th all-rounder to score 2000 runs and 100 wickets and the 12th all-rounder to do the rare double of 2000 runs and 150 wickets in LOIs.
• The unbeaten partnership of 92 runs between Damian Martyn and Darren Lehmann was Australia's best for the fourth wicket against Zimbabwe. The pair obliterates the previous best stand of 70 runs between Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan at Ahmedabad on 3-4-1998.
• This was Australia's tenth consecutive win in LOIs since its defeat by Sri Lanka (by 79 runs) at Sydney on 9-1-2003.
• This was Zimbabwe's 19th loss in a row against the Aussies in all LOIs since its only win way back in the 1983 WC.
• This was Blignaut's maiden man of the match award of his career in 18 matches.