Andy Flower pulls the ball away. (Getty Images)

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Australia continue to set the standard at the World Cup after cruising to a comfortable win over Zimbabwe on Monday.

The holders were rarely troubled as they cantered to their fourth consecutive Pool A victory with seven wickets to spare in Bulawayo.

Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn both hit unflustered and unbeaten half-centuries to guide their side home with 15 balls to spare.

Adam Gilchrist had earlier set the ball rolling with a characteristic opening blast in response to Zimbabwe's 246 for nine.

It was a total that proved wholly inadequate despite the best efforts of Andy Flower and Andy Blignaut, who both revived the Zimbabwe innings at different points with aggressive half centuries.

Flower had dominated proceedings before the game with speculation rife that he would be dropped following his black armband protest against the political regime in his country earlier in the tournament.

Yet Flower was named in the line-up as expected and, not wearing either a wristband or an armband, was soon called upon to dig Zimbabwe out of trouble as they slipped to 28 for two.

The left hander responded in style and looked in good touch as he shared in a solid stand of 84 with brother Grant when the latter was brilliantly run out by Gilchrist for 36 after a terrible mix-up.

Zimbabwe then began to flounder as Brad Hogg removed the other Flower and followed up by claiming Dion Ebrahim and Doug Marillier in successive balls.

But Blignaut picked up the baton impressively with a blistering knock of 54 from 28 balls that later earned him the man-of-the-match award and also brought his side back into the game.

Blignaut smashed eight fours in a superb display of clean hitting and brought up his half century with the second of two enormous straight sixes.

Yet his dismissal to Brett Lee, when he smashed the ball back into the bowler's hands, robbed his side of the impetus as they looked to close their innings with a flourish.

It was not until skipper Heath Streak eventually got going to hit a run-a-ball 28 not out that the home side reached a competitive score.

Yet even that soon looked like being easily overcome as Gilchrist set about the attack with his usual relish.

He made a clear statement of his intentions by driving Streak's first ball back past him for four and adding three more to race into his twenties before partner Matthew Hayden had scored.

He was given one reprieve when he was dropped by Doug Hondo at third man in the second over but took full advantage to race away to 61 from 64 balls.

Hayden was slower to get off the mark but he too showed some attacking inclination before loosely glancing to Grant Flower off Hondo.

Gilchrist's innings came to an end when he heaved Doug Marillier into the deep and was well caught by substitute fielder Sean Ervine. He had hit eight fours.

Skipper Ricky Ponting however had no intention of letting the game slip and restored calm with a patient 38.

When he was caught and bowled by Brian Murphy to leave the score at 156 for three, Zimbabwe may have sniffed brief hopes of a fightback.

But those thoughts were soon blown away as Lehmann, 56 not out, and Martyn, 50 not out, efficiently completed the chase.