Perth, Oct 11: Leg-spinner Stuart Macgill struck twice and speedster Brett Lee once as Zimbabwe crashed here today on the third day of the first cricket test against Australia. Zimbabwe went to lunch with a precarious first innings 157 for four wickets, still a massive 578 runs behind Australia's first innings 735 for six wickets declared.
Craig Wishart is unbeaten with 18 and Craig Evans has made eight.
Macgill had figures of 2-37, while Lee picked up 1-46.
The crash of wickets came after a promising start on one of the easiest-paced pitches ever prepared at the Waca ground.
Overnight batsmen Trevor gripper and Mark Vermeulen resumed in confident fashion, adding 24 runs in the opening half hour.
Gripper was in particularly fine touch, quickly advancing from 37 to only his fourth test half century in 15 games.
He reached the milestone in 162 minutes, from 128 balls, collecting six boundaries.
But, on 53, he was felled as he attempted to hook a short ball from express bowler Brett Lee.
The ball struck him in the neck, just below the right ear, sending him to the turf, dazed by the painful blow.
Play was held up for several minutes while a pain-killing spray was applied before gripper resumed his innings.
But, still unsettled by the injury, he was out to the first ball of Lee's next over as he ballooned a catch to Darren Lehmann, in the gully. Bureau Report