Tim Paine chose to bat first after winning the toss, an apparent decision on a flat and slow pitch. Overcast, cold and windy conditions assisted the bowlers for just over ten overs from the start of the match and that was the most of any decent movement the bowlers got all day. Tuskers’ Njabulo Ncube removed Philip Hughes (27) when Hughes got an inside edge and played to the stumps. In the 23rd over Usman Khawaja (8) got caught behind off the bowling of Elton Chigumbura.
By lunch Australia was 164/2 with David Warner and Callum Ferguson in the middle. Warner at the time, had was on 112 runs after facing 110 balls and his cameo featured 13 boundaries and four sixes while his partner Ferguson had was on 10 from 26 deliveries. Zimbabwe XI captain Vusi Sibanda rotated his bowlers and only managed to break the 152 run partnership when Warner was caught at deep mid-wicket. Warner had scored 152 runs from 141 deliveries after hitting 21 boundaries and four sixes.
Aaron Finch was the last wicket to fall in the innings before his captain Tim Paine (18) and his vice added 50 runs to close the innings at 427/4 at stumps. Ferguson was top scoring with 156 from 214 balls in an innings featuring 21 boundaries and a six.
