Zimbabwe's Homeric passage through the seventh World Cup is not at an end, for five points may still be enough to carry them through to the semi-finals, but they faltered against Australia at a resplendent Lord's yesterday just when another little odyssey beckoned.
Needing 304 to win and make certain of a place in the last four they looked capable of victory when they were 139 for one at the halfway mark with Neil Johnson playing the innings of his life. Again.
Johnson, already with two man of the match awards, and Murray Goodwin were batting much as they pleased as they added 114 for the second wicket in 18 overs and Shane Warne had just been splattered for 44 runs in five overs. To sustain their hopes Zimbabwe's supporters recalled the time - 16 years to the day - their men had beaten Australia by 13 runs at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup.
But Australia had won all 10 of their other previous one-day meetings and the old order was confirmed when they won this match by 44 runs. There was still something heroic about Zimbabwe's reply and by scoring 259 for six they ensured that their potentially crucial run-rate was not terminally damaged.
Johnson followed his three for 43 with a marvellous 132 not out from 144 balls with 14 fours and two sixes. He plundered four of those boundaries from a single Warne over. After bowling successfully in the group stages Warne, at Super Six level, has proved expensive. Zimbabwe's fragile chances perished when Australia started to bowl properly and when the old miser Glenn McGrath returned to the attack. But Zimbabwe's middle order seemed more anxious to attempt to match his vibrant stroke-play. At the end Johnson was content to squeeze the winning margin as tight as possible. The only surprise was that Zimbabwe had chosen to bowl on a flat track under blue skies. Both Zimbabwe's wins over major opposition in this tournament, against India and South Africa, came when they had batted first. Mark Waugh scored 104 from 120 deliveries, with 13 fours yet brother Steve's innings was even more violent. There were two sixes and five fours in his 61-ball 62 before Michael Bevan and Tom Moody put on their oxygen masks for the summit. Ultimately Zimbabwe did well to keep Australia below the 320-330 area that seemed well within their capabilities when they had scored 141 for two after 25 overs. So the runners are bunching at the bell. But Australia know that victory in Sunday's meeting with South Africa will take them through.
Australia A Gilchrist lbw b Johnson - 10 M Waugh c Goodwin b Johnson - 104 R Ponting b Olonga - 36 D Lehmann retd hurt - 6 S Waugh b G. Whittall - 62 M Bevan not out - 37 T Moody not out - 20
Extras: (lb6, w13, nb9) - 28 -
Total (for 4 wickets, 50 overs) - 303
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-74, 3-226, 4-248
Did not bat: S Warne, D Fleming, P Reiffel, G McGrath
Bowling: Johnson 8-0-43-2, Streak 10-0-50-0, Olonga 7-0-62-1, G Whittall 4-0-24-1, Strang 101-47-0, A Whittall 8-1-51-0, G Flower 3-0-20-0
Zimbabwe N Johnson not out - 132 G Flower lbw b McGrath - 21 M Goodwin c Moody b Bevan - 47 A Flower c Gilchrist b Reiffe - l0 A Campbell c Fleming b Reiffel - 17 G Whittall c M. Waugh b Reiffel - 0 D Viljoen st Gilchrist b Warne - 5 H Streak not out - 18
Extras: (lb6, w13) - 19 -
Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) - 259
Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-153, 3-154, 4-188, 5189, 6-200
Did not bat: P Strang, A Whittall, H Olonga
Bowling: McGrath 10-1-33-1, Fleming 10-046-0, Warne 9-0-55-1, Reiffel 10-0-55-3, Moody 6-0-38-0, Bevan 5-1-26-1 Australia won by 44 runs.
