AUSTRALIA: India's opening bowler Irfan Pathan returned a career-best 4-24 to steer his side to a four-wicket win against Zimbabwe in the final pool match of the VB Series.

Pathan blew away the Zimbabwe top order with a three-wicket opening spell, returning later to add the scalp of Robin Petersen to complete his match-winning performance.

Zimbabwe fought back valiantly after being rolled over for a meagre 135 but India recovered from a nervous 73-4 to complete the victory with just under 20 overs to spare thanks to VVS Laxman (32) and Hemang Badani (34 not out). Both batsmen profited from dropped catches.

The result means Zimbabwe failed to win any of their eight group matches, leaving Australia and India to fight out the forthcoming best-of-three final. Australia have won two of their three pool clashes to date.

Earlier, it required a 63-run partnership between Stuart Carlisle and Sean Ervine to get Zimbabwe to three figures after Heath Streak had won the toss and elected to bat first in Perth.

Vusi Sibanda lasted four deliveries of Pathan's first over before edging to Laxman, and Tatenda Taibu was trapped leg before fist ball to leave Zimbabwe 2-1. When Dion Ebrahim edged to the slips for seven the Africans were 11-3 and looking at humiliation.

The introduction of Ashish Nehra signalled a change in fortune with his opening over disappearing for 17, but some smart fielding by Yuvraj Singh accounted for Carlisle and wickets tumbled regularly thereafter.

4 Feb, 2004