The security forces are primed at the Sardar Patel Stadium, formerly the Gujarat Stadium, in Ahmedabad but there is only a small crowd to watch defending champions Australia in their opening match against Zimbabwe
Runs are hard to come by for the Australians after they choose to bat first, with openers Brad Haddin (pictured) and Shane Watson scoring only one boundary each in the first 10 overs
There is a reprieve for Haddin when the ball trickles on to the middle stump but does not dislodge the bails
But Haddin is given out lbw after the Zimbabweans call for an umpire decision review, and Watson falls in the same manner after making 79 from 92 balls
Chris Mpofu then stuns Ricky Ponting with a direct hit from the deep to run out the Australia captain for 28 and leave the defending champions on 144-3
The flow of wickets prompts a celebratory dance between Chris Mpofu and Ray Price, but Michael Clarke is unbeaten on 58 from 55 balls as Australia reach 262-6
The formidable muscular action of Shaun Tait gives the Zimbabwe batsman a test of nerve under the floodlights
After three wickets fall in as many overs, left-hander Sean Williams restores some pride with some lusty blows
Graeme Cremer defies the Australian bowlers with a determined 37 from 51 deliveries
But Mitchell Johnson has his radar functioning well and captures the final two wickets to claim impressive figures of 4-19 from 9.2 overs as Zimbabwe are all out for 171 and Australia win by 91 runs
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