Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 259/6 (Johnson 132*, Streak 18*). Australia won by 44 runs (18.35 BST)

Fleming returned for his final overs, only to be welcomed by two more fours from Johnson, one right down the ground and the other, off a full toss, cut square. When McGrath pitched short, Johnson tried to hit him out of the ground three times in an over, but missed rather spectacularly on each occasion. He did the same once against Reiffel, but then got hold of an overpitched ball properly to put it over the long-off boundary. Soon the fifty partnership was recorded, with Streak playing a good supporting role, but interest was now mainly academic.

In the final over, bowled by Fleming, Johnson swung and missed at the first three balls, all outside the off stump, dropping his bat in bemusement at one stage. With the help of Streak, he took two singles to take his score to 132, overtaking Campbell's 131 against Sri Lanka in 1994/95 and second only to present coach Dave Houghton's 142 for Zimbabwe against New Zealand in the 1987/88 World Cup.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 227-6 (Johnson 107*, Streak 12*) off 45 overs (18.14 BST)

Zimbabwe needed to score at a rate of ten an over for the last ten overs of the match, with only four wickets in hand, so the only realistic aim was to reduce the deficit to as little as possible - 50 runs or so being perhaps a reasonable aim. But much depended on Johnson, now close to his century. McGrath came back for the death, and Johnson finally turned him to deep midwicket and ran through for a well-deserved century. It came off 118 balls and contained 11 fours and a six.

Johnson was not now batting with the same flair as earlier, but seemed to be intent now on seeing Zimbabwe through to the close, although not neglecting to hit Moody over his head for four when he put the ball in a suitable place. He did appear when running between the wickets though to be suffering from some hamstring strain sustained while completing a quick single in the nineties. Streak too batted sensibly and they kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 203-6 (Johnson 95*, Streak 1*) off 40 overs (17.55 BST)

Johnson, still defiant, cut Bevan sharply for four to third man, while Campbell got off the mark with a tickle to fine leg for two. When Reiffel overpitched Johnson off-drove him yet again to the rope, while Campbell flicked him to the fine-leg boundary, and the run rate began to improve again. Bevan yielded another cut four to Johnson, who went into the eighties, but had a narrow escape when a leading edge landed just clear of the fielders in the mid-off area. Campbell did not last long, though, flicking a ball from Reiffel high towards fine leg where Fleming, not the most reliable of fielders, took the catch. He made 17 off 22 balls, and Zimbabwe were 188 for four.

It was soon 189 for five as Whittall, under pressure to maintain a high scoring rate, lashed out at Reiffel and hit a catch straight to Mark Waugh at mid-off without scoring. This brought in the inexperienced Viljoen and, although Johnson was still there, Zimbabwe's hopes were now all but extinguished. Viljoen's job was to keep the singles coming and giving as much of the strike as possible to Johnson, and he did it well, until being controversially gioevn out stumped off Warne. Although the television replays seemed to shed insufficient light on the position of his foot relative to the crease, in the unanimous opinion of the press box, the third umpire still decided he was out. He made 5, and Zimbabwe were 200 for six.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 154-3 (Johnson 73*, Campbell 0*) off 30 overs (17.08 BST)

Johnson and Goodwin sailed merrily onward in their superb second-wicket partnership, past the 105 between Grant Flower and Goodwin against Sri Lanka, the country's previous record for that wicket against a Test-playing nation, but fell short of the 150 against Kenya when Goodwin pulled Bevan straight into the hands of Moody at deep midwicket. He made 47 off 56 balls, and Zimbabwe were 153 for two, after a stand of 114.

Australia began to breathe again, especially when Reiffel induced an edge from Andy Flower to be caught at the wicket for his second successive duck - a rare occurrence, for the Zimbabwean wicket-keeper is one of the steadiest starters in the game. Zimbabwe were now 154 for three. Just when there seemed a slight possibility that they might be able to snatch an amazing victory - they would certainly have been ahead on Duckworth-Lewis - the tide turned.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 141-1 (Johnson 71*, Goodwin 40*) off 25 overs (16.46 BST)

Waugh dispensed with Warne after his unaccustomed onslaught, replacing him with Moody, who almost got the same treatment as Johnson thrashed him through the covers; Bevan, though, made a fine boundary save. Goodwin again cut Reiffel for a four backward of point and then pulled him for another wide of midwicket. The crowd roared in appreciation as Zimbabwe were certainly making a match of it. Reiffel seemed to lose his accuracy under the assault, bowling two wides in an over and giving runs away steadily.

Johnson reached a fine fifty, whereupon Waugh decided to try Warne again, this time from the other end. This time there were no fireworks, but neither did he cause the batsmen any trouble as they worked him around for ones and twos. Johnson turned his attention to Moody, clipping him for four over midwicket, followed by a two, and then a huge pull for six into the tavern. Warne again bowled Johnson a half-volley well outside off and again paid the penalty, with another four through extra cover; one down the leg side went to the fine-leg boundary off a mistimed sweep by Goodwin. A better timed sweep brought him only a single.

At this stage Zimbabwe had achieved a run rate of almost six an over, which would have dropped had Goodwin succeeded in running himself out, being over-eager for two from a cut to third man and being sent back just in time by Johnson. When Bevan came on to bowl, there was a big appeal against Goodwin, the Australians claiming that he cut a ball on to Gilchrist's boot and was caught at backward point off the rebound. The umpire gave it not out, and the camera appeared to show that the ball had hit ground as well as boot. "I don't believe it!" exclaimed Gilchrist over the effects microphone, but he had to believe it.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 76-1 (Johnson 37*, Goodwin 13*) off 15 overs (16.03 BST)

McGrath struck the first blow for Australia by beating Flower on the back foot and trapping him lbw in front of his stumps. Flower had scored 21, and Zimbabwe were 39 for one. This brought in Goodwin to play against the country where he spent half his life.

Johnson's response was to take on Warne, hitting him high and wide of long on for a two-bounce four and then lashing him wide of long off for another boundary. Two balls later he hammered a widish ball past covcer for another boundary, and finished the over with a fourth wide of long off again, just missing silly mid-off on the way.

Goodwin struggled for a while to get off the mark, but finally clipped Reiffel, replacing McGrath, to the midwicket boundary. Johnson faced Warne again, and hit a half-volley wide of off stump to the cover boundary before taking a single to midwicket, which looked almost as if the Australians donated him in order to spare Warne more humiliation. If so, it almost worked, as Goodwin attempted to sweep a super-spinner down leg and was not far off being bowled behind his legs. At the other end, Johnson was less fluent against Reiffel but Goodwin cut him fiercely for four and then drove him to the extra cover boundary. At this stage Zimbabwe were putting up a fine fight, although ultimate victory still appeared a hopeless quest. Warne's first three overs cost him 29 runs.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 39-0 (Johnson 16*, G Flower 21*) off 10 overs (15.40 BST)

The required run rate continued to prey on Zimbabwe's minds as Fleming in particular settled down to bowl tight line and length, and some rather unwise strokes were attempted when the frustration became evident. Flower had a fine straight drive obstructed by the stumps at McGrath's end, but kept the ones and twos coming from cuts and pulls to anything off line. Johnson on the other hand was always looking to drive anything overpitched.

With no wicket down after nine overs, Steve Waugh brought on Warne to bowl. Johnson paddled his first ball easily down for fine leg for two. Another paddled single and then three swung over midwicket by Flower made it a rather expensive over.

Lord's, Australia 303-4, Zimbabwe 18-0 (Johnson 7*, G Flower 10*) off 5 overs (15.20 BST)

Zimbabwe made an understandably tentative start to their innings, with Johnson twice beaten outside off stump by McGrath, who had something to say when he bowled the next just down the leg side and was called for a wide. Then Johnson pushed a single into the covers, while Grant Flower cracked the first ball he faced for his country at Lord's handsomely through the covers for four. An unavailing flash outside the off stump next ball was less convincing, though.

Flower for once looked the more aggressive of the two, although he was not far off giving a catch to backward point in Fleming's first over. McGrath nearly slipped one through Johnson in his next over, the batsman just managing to keep himself from playing on via bat and pad, but he responded with a fine off-drive to the pavilion rails. Two good balls from McGrath kept him defending with great discretion. Australia's strike bowler was moving the ball either way, but the batsmen were facing him with confidence - perhaps a little too much at times, as Flower played a slog across the line and was almost bowled.

Lord's, Australia 303-4 (Bevan 37*, Moody 20*) off 50 overs (14.19 BST)

Moody played the stroke of the day, a magnificent straight drive off Andrew Whittall that landed high in the Compton Stand at long-on. Cunning bowling and good fielding, though, restrained Moody to a single during the rest of the over, following which Campbell took a gamble by bringing back Olonga. The pace off the bat made singles easy, but at least Olonga kept quite accurate and did not allow liberties.

Streak replaced Whittall, but he was immediately clipped to the midwicket boundary by Bevan. Later in the over he superbly fielded a straight drive, and Bevan caused the crowd much amusement with a flying dive into his crease as Streak threatened to throw the wicket down. In Olonga's next over, Bevan lofted a ball not far short of Johnson at long on, and then over wide mid-on for four.

Australia's 300 came up in the final over as Bevan drove Streak to long off for yet another single, and finished yet again not out. It had been a fine batting display by the Australian team against a Zimbabwean side that never gave up with the ball or in the field but, probably through nerves, failed to reproduce the inspiration they showed against South Africa in Chelmsford.

Lord's, Australia 262-4 (Bevan 14*, Moody 4*) off 45 overs (13.55 BST)

Mark Waugh finally reached a creditable century with the usual driven single to long-on; it contained 13 fours and took him 115 balls. Soon after he nearly lost his wicket the same way as his brother, heaving across the line, but the ball from Johnson just missed his off stump. However the very next ball he mistimed a pull directly to Goodwin at deepish midwicket and was out for 104; Australia were now on 248 for four.

His captain (and brother) may well have had a couple of words to say to him, as two quick wickets in succession left two new batsmen at the crease and Australia needing to consolidate before being able to continue their assault.

Lord's, Australia 229-3 (M Waugh 92*, Bevan 3*) off 40 overs (13.34 BST)

Grant Flower replaced Whittall, but Australia still continued to cruse along at a rate approaching six runs per over, and the situation was looking increasingly bleak for Zimbabwe by the time drinks were taken after 35 overs at 193 for two. Still their fielders threw themselves at everything, but their bowlers could not find the inspiration to put the match back on an even keel again. Steve Waugh brought up the 200 with a gentle drive off Strang out to long-off; next ball Mark drove powerfully just clear of Grant Flower at short extra cover. Clearly this was not Zimbabwe's day as far as luck was concerned either. Then another drive to long-off brought up Steve's fifty, off 54 balls - following which a pull from Steve which landed just inside the boundary was also just out of Guy Whittall's reach. There was no mistake about the next one, into the crowd at midwicket.

Campbell felt he had no option but to recall Streak. He had an lbw appeal against Mark rejected, but the batsman was well down the pitch, and then just failed to reach a very difficult return catch. Mark then cracked a boundary through the covers, but was then hit painfully in the ribs trying to pull a short ball. Guy Whittall replaced Flower and had Steve missing a hurried back stroke first ball; later in the over he finally achieved the breakthrough, as Steve heaved across the line to a straight ball and was comprehensively bowled. He made 62, and Australia were now 226 for three, with 11 overs still in hand. Streak nearly followed it up with the wicket of Mark, beating him all ends up with a fine delivery cutting away off the pitch.

Lord's, Australia 168-2 (M Waugh 69*, S Waugh 29*) off 30 overs (12.54 BST)

While Olonga continued to concede runs at a remarkable rate, Mark Waugh let fly a straight drive at Strang which hit his brother and captain Steve on the helmet, saving a boundary. As they ran through for a single, Steve grinned and waved his helmet at the dressing room, but had to call for a substitute (helmet, that is). Andrew Whittall replaced Olonga at the pavilion end and quickly got a ball to spin back viciously at Mark, now on 48. Next ball Mark was nearly run out, as a brilliant save and throw by Streak at mid-on had him scuttling back into his crease in a hurry. A couple of gentle singles in the next over from Strang saw him through to his half-century.

Steve began to get moving by swinging Whittall for six over the square leg boundary, but Mark was lucky to survive a stumping attempt off Strang in the next over. He overbalanced while playing forward, and the keeper was unlucky enough to whip the bails off a split second BEFORE he dragged his toe over the line. Next over he tried to copy Steve's six off Whittall, but the ball bounced just short of the boundary. Then a lofted on-drive just cleared Streak at mid-on, a reminder perhaps to keep his head down. The batsmen did not have it all their own way with Whittall's off-breaks, though, and several times they had to check their strokes.

Mark leapt down the pitch to hit Strang for four with a brutal slog-sweep, but was pinned down for the rest of the over. But, with the bowlers now getting little assistance from the conditions, all they could to was try to play a containing game, urgently in need of wickets to prevent Australia from building up an unbeatable total.

Lord's, Australia 111-2 (M Waugh 38*, S Waugh 5*) off 20 overs (12.20 BST)

Ponting began to take control in an array of aggressive strokes and the run rate improved markedly. He rattled up 36 in quick time before Olonga moved a ball back sharply from outside the off stump and Ponting, trying to crack him through the off-side field, dragged the ball on to his stumps via the inside edge. Australia were now 74 for two, the wicket coming at a vital time for Zimbabwe as Australia were just beginning to run away with the match.

Lehmann was quickly under way with a glanced single to fine leg, which was followed by a cracking cut to the boundary by Waugh, then a flick off his toes to fine leg for another four. Hitherto content to play second fiddle, Waugh now seemed ready to dominate in his own right. Lehmann cut fiercely at Guy Whittall, but the ball was superbly fielded by Campbell; a drive through extra cover was superbly cut off by Viljoen after a long chase, but fine running brought an all-run four.

Waugh had a narrow escape as an attempted cut came out as a snick which just flicked the keeper's glove as he dived to his right, on its way to the boundary. Olonga was not at his most accurate and the batsmen continued to score freely, although they had to be wary of some uneven bounce at the Nursery End. Then Lehmann took a painful rap on the hand from a delivery from Olonga that reared sharply and was forced to retire hurt. He had scored 6 at that stage, and Australia were 97 for two.

Strang came on to tackle Steve Waugh as he arrived at the crease, and pinned him down with a maiden over. Olonga, though, kept straying on to leg stump and keeping the long-leg fielder Guy Whittall fully occupied until reinforcements were sent in the shape of Johnson. The Zimbabwean fielders continued to make some spectacular saves, and at this stage they were probably worth another 20 or 30 runs.

Lord's, Australia 35-1 (Waugh 7*, Ponting 12*) off 10 overs (12:00 BST)

The ground was still little more than half full as Australia continued to take the ones and twos, but it was enough to provide a typical Lord's atmosphere, genteel and without the raucous shouting that has characterised most of Zimbabwe's other matches. Zimbabwe struck their first blow when Gilchrist drove at a yorker from Johnson, only half forward, to be hit on the boot right in front of the stumps and given out lbw for 10, leaving his team at 18 for one.

Johnson kept the batsmen on the defensive, swinging the ball predominantly away from the bat, and Streak was also finding movement in the air. On occasions the ball swung too much, and Johnson bowled two successive swinging wides to Ponting. Waugh almost scored his first boundary when he clipped Streak towards the long-leg boundary but Andrew Whittall, running round from fine leg, made a superb save. In the same over Waugh almost fell to a brilliant catch by Grant Flower, leaping high at backward point to get a hand to an uppish cut but failing to hold the rebound. Flower received a round of sympathetic applause from the crowd, which was repeated when shown on the big screen.

Ponting then had a fairly narrow escape against Johnson, a mistimed hook almost rebounding on to his stumps. He then had quickly to adjust an intended clip through midwicket as the ball straightened on him. Ones and twos continued to come, but the batsmen were kept on full alert. Ponting played a fine cover drive off the back foot to a short ball from Streak, overtaking Waugh. He was looking the more attacking of the two, but playing with an element of risk.

Lord's, Australia 13-0 (M Waugh 4*, Gilchrist 8*) off 5 overs (11.05 BST)

The Zimbabweans, never having played at Lord's before, were naturally nervous. Johnson's first was a no-ball, and he was rather erratic in length, but the batsmen only took a single each off his first over. The first appeal came in Streak's first over, for lbw against Gilchrist, but the ball may have been swinging down leg. Zimbabwe thought for a moment they may have got Gilchrist in Streak's next over, caught down the leg side, but the ball was dropped by the keeper and it may only have come off the thigh pad.

The first boundary came in the fifth over, as Gilchrist clipped Johnson past midwicket into the vacant deep field, the ball just trickling over the rope before third man reached it on a long haul round the boundary. Otherwise the batsmen were able to score only in singles, with the occasional two, against increasingly accurate Zimbabwean bowling and fine fielding.

Lord's, pre-match (10.40 BST)

Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to field, believing the conditions would be favourable to their seam bowlers in partly overcast weather and on a pitch with a tinge of green. The teams were as follows:

Australia: Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Steve Waugh (capt), Michael Bevan, Tom Moody, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Paul Reiffel, Glenn McGrath.

Zimbabwe: Neil Johnson, Grant Flower, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower, Alistair Campbell (capt), Guy Whittall, Dirk Viljoen, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, Andrew Whittall, Henry Olonga.

Zimbabwe recalled Paul Strang to strengthen their batting, although Adam Huckle had bowled well without luck in previous matches. Stuart Carlisle, on a hiding to nothing as a specialist batsman at number seven or eight but doing little with the opportunities he did have, has been replaced by Viljoen.