Taylor exits in blaze of glory on World Cup do-or-die weekend

SYDNEY: Zimbabwe´s Brendan Taylor marked his international farewell with a sublime century on Saturday as the World Cup headed into a do-or-die weekend.

Stand-in skipper Taylor smashed 138 off 110 balls with 15 boundaries and five sixes as Zimbabwe made 287 all out against defending champions India in Auckland for his eighth one-day international century.

It was Taylor´s second successive hundred at the tournament but it was too late to save Zimbabwe as their defeat last week to Ireland had ended their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

India, who are already through to the last-eight, where they will face Bangladesh in Melbourne on March 19, sprinted to shake the hand of Taylor playing his last international before he takes up a three-year English county deal with Nottinghamshire.

Sean Williams added 50 off 57 balls with three boundaries and three sixes as Zimbabwe set India a stiff challenge to maintain their 100 percent record in Pool B.

"It was nice to get partnerships (of 93 for the fourth wicket with Williams and 109 for the fifth with Craig Ervine) and build some momentum, but I reckon we are about 30-40 (runs) short," said the 29-year-old Taylor.

"Anything over 300 would have been definitely competitive, especially when you know what you are up against. We feel we´re a bit short there in the end."

Saturday´s other game sees four-time champions Australia seeking to take second spot in Pool A behind New Zealand by defeating Scotland in Hobart and set-up a quarter-final in Adelaide on March 20 against either Pakistan or Ireland.

Australia will have little to fear from a Scotland side who have still to win a World Cup match in three appearances -- a run of 13 games.

The two sides have met four times with Australia winning by six wickets in 1999, 203 runs in 2007, 189 runs in 2005 and 200 runs in 2013.

Six of the eight quarter-finalists are already known -- New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from Pool A and India and South Africa in Pool B. (AFP)