Potchefstroom: Opener Matthew Hayden hit an aggressive 88 and Darren Lehmann smashed a 31-ball 50 as Australia posted 301 for six in its Group 'A' game against Namibia at North West Stadium on Thursday. Hayden's 88 came off 73 balls and was spiced with nine boundaries and three sixes after Australia won the toss and decided to bat but Lehmann stole the show with some lusty hitting, taking 28 off the last over bowled by Rudi van Vuuren. Before Lehmann's quick fire innings Australia had to thwart some disciplined bowling and fielding from the minnows. Andrew Symonds hit 59 to give impetus to the Australian innings but at 231for six the world champion looked like finishing short of a good total before Lehmann's innings took it beyond 300. Symonds had partnered Damien Martyn for a fifth wicket stand of 84 after Louis Burger's triple strike had pegged back Australia at 146 for four. Symonds, who hit a match winning 143 against Pakistan in his team's first match, was run out for 59 after a mix-up and Martyn followed him in the next over, bowled by Bjorn Kotze for 35. Namibia gave its only black player Burton van Rooi his first chance and the 20-year- old bowled with venom to dismiss Adam Gilchrist bowled for 13 in the sixth over. Michael Bevan, who became the fourth Australian to play 200 One-day games, put on 78 for the second wicket with Hayden before he fell to a sharp return catch off Louis Burger. The same player then bowled Hayden for 88 and had captain Ricky Ponting caught at cover for just two. But then Australia sprinted away from its opponents thanks to Lehmann and Brad Hogg who added 70 for the seventh wicket off just 43 balls. Copyright AFP 2001

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Ponting opts to make first use of wicket versus Namibia

Tags: cricket, matthew hayden, darren lehmann, australia vs namibia, rudi van vuuren, andrew symonds, bjorn kotze, burton van rooi, adam gilchrist.