AUSTRALIA's - Mark Waugh failed in his attempt to score three successive World Cup centuries as Zimbabwe crashed to an eight-wicket defeat in Nagpur, India, yesterday. Waugh, whose 130 against Kenya and 126 against India was a new tournament record, ran short by 24 runs after Australia overtook Zimbabwe's modest 154 in 36 overs.

Waugh remained unbeaten on 76 as the Australians recorded their third successive victory in group A of the preliminary league. Waugh, who now averages 166 in three games, hit 10 boundaries to cap another impressive performance by Australia.

In Lahore, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, stunned Holland by winning their group B meeting. Shaukat Dukanwala and big-hitting Saleem Raza, who cracked six sixes and seven fours in an innings of 84 off just 68 balls, saw the Emirates home by seven wickets and with over five overs to spare in their final match of the tournament.

England's hapless tournament took a farther turn for the worse when they were beaten by five wickets by a Karachi club team in a match that was supposed to have lifted their spirits before tomorrow's meeting with Pakistan.