Date-stamped : 04 Dec94 - 10:26 WSC 1994/95: Zimbabwe v Australia WACA ground, Perth, 2 December 1994 (D/N) A 24-year-old leg-spinner with trousers dragging in the dirt stole the show at the WACA Ground in Perth last night - and his name wasn`t Shane Warne. Tugging at his trousers and pulling up the sleeves of his out- sized russet uniform, Zimbabwe`s Paul Strang delivered 10 overs of over-the-eyes leg spinners and wrong`uns in an immaculate per- formance for 1-30. In addition, the little spinner fielded bril- liantly and made an unbeaten 17 in a fascinating opening match to the Benson and Hedges World Series tournament. Despite losing the second half of the Waugh brothers when Mark limped off the ground with a thigh strain, Australia pressed on for a most unconvincing two-wicket win, 8-167 to 9-166. Four days after Steve Waugh was ruled out of the first four World Series matches to allow a shoulder injury to mend, Mark strained a thigh muscle in his only over before retiring for treatment. With Australian wickets falling, Waugh eventually returned at No 9 with Michael Slater as his runner, hitting the winning runs in his six not out. Although Waugh`s adductor muscle strain is not considered serious, it has endangered his position for Tuesday`s game against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Australians struggled to overcome the splendidly tenacious Zimbabwe in what became an engrossing evening, pace bowlers Eddo Brandes (1-29) and Heath Streak (2-31) making important contribu- tions. Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said of Waugh`s in- jury: ``I think it will respond pretty well. It is a minor strain. It`s too early to say whether he will be fit for Syd- ney.`` Australia made off-spinner Tim May 12th man and Mark Taylor surprised by putting Zimbabwe in to bat on the dry, hard strip. The Zimbabwean brothers, Andy and Grant Flower, wiry and brisk, ran well and showed enterprise and no mean ability in their open- ing partnership of 49 in 12 overs. Skipper Andy Flower, 26, a left-hander ever-ready to leap into a drive, played a lovely glide behind square leg and off-drove boundaries in a 10-run over from Damien Fleming (1-45) in his 29 and a flowing on-drive from Fleming to the fence was the stroke of the innings. Brother Grant, 23, a right-hander, has been out of touch, but before edging Glenn McGrath (2-23), who was back to his frugal ways, into his wicket, clipped away two boundaries in an innings of 20. But nothing would go right for Zimbabwe`s top order, Andy Flower edging Fleming shin-high to Warne in the gully when nicely primed for a long stay and David Houghton (13) was run out by Stuart Law`s under-arm throw-down. Umpire Terry Prue required the telev- ision camera to confirm the dismissal and the replay was again needed for Alistair Campbell`s unfortunate demise. Campbell (22) revealed a willingness to attack the Australian bowling, but pushing off for a single against Warne, his foot brushed a stump and the bail fell. The alert Taylor spotted the fallen bail and appealed and after a brief delay for the TV re- play, the fatal red light shone. Zimbabawe`s batting resources are scanty after their top four batsmen and Australia tied the tourists down well. Leg- spinner Shane Warne played a valuable part in the win with 2-27, but for once his man-of-the-match award stunned everybody. Thanks :: Phil Wilkins, Sydney Morning Herald. Contributed by David.Mar (mar@physics.su.OZ.AU)