Australia are rocked by Zimbabwe

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- World Cup holders Australia were on the wrong end of one of cricket's great upsets when they crashed to a five-wicket defeat by Zimbabwe in a World Twenty20 contest at a rain-drenched Cape Town.

Man-of-the-match Brendan Taylor, who made an unbeaten 60, guided the Zimbabweans home from the penultimate ball, the rain beating down as the ball shot off his pads to the fine-leg boundary off Nathan Bracken for the four runs required.

Zimbabwe, chasing 139 looked to have been thwarted when wet weather interrupted their floodlit chase in the 12th over.

The interruption did not affect the target, however, and Taylor masterminded things with an unbeaten 60, crucially lofting Brad Hodge for two sixes in an over which cost 15.

Even then 12 were required off Bracken's final over and Australia - despite a rusty performance after four months of inactivity - began it as favorites.

Taylor changed everything when he swept four off the first ball and Group B, was thrown wide open.

The Australians had been under pressure from the start as Vusi Sibanda charged Zimbabwe to 31 without loss inside four overs - having crunched five fours.

When he fell though Australia grabbed wickets prior to the stoppage.

Zimbabwe were 74 for four, when the rain grew heavier and forced the players off for half-an-hour.

After winning the toss, Australia's aggressive top order of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ponting all succumbed to aggressive strokes on a pitch designed for seamers.

At 19 for three after four overs, Australia struggled until Brad Hodge cracked two sixes and another couple of fours in a 22-ball 35.

Andrew Symonds was the only other batsman to score more than 15.

Shahid Afridi hammered 22 off seven balls and then grabbed four for 19 as Pakistan brushed aside Scotland by 51 runs.

The pugnacious all-rounder kept Pakistan on course for victory after Craig Wright had taken three wickets to restrict them to 171-9 at the Kingsmead.

Scotland, playing their first Twenty20 international, were shot out for 120 in reply with opener Fraser Watts the only batsman to offer resistance with 46. E-mail to a friend