Ponting Enjoys Sydney Run-Fest |
(Sourced from Cricket365.com)
Ricky Ponting was delighted that he and his team got some much-needed runs in their Commonwealth Bank Series victory over India in Sydney.
Australian skipper Ponting ended his barren run in the middle with a sparkling 124 off 132 balls to help propel the hosts to 317-7 at the SCG.
India made a record second innings score at the ground, but fell just 18 runs shorts of what would have been an almighty effort to win.
Ponting had previously accumulated just 64 runs in his six innings in the CB Series, but his 26th century came as a welcome relief,
as well making him the fifth player to score over 11,000 one-day runs.
Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden also hit much-needed half-centuries in the victory, and Ponting proclaimed the
match a good work-out all-round.
"It was good for us to get some quality time out there and hopefully that will hold us in good stead going into the finals,"said Ponting.
"We are trying to get some momentum behind us going into the finals and hopefully I can get some more runs in the next few games.
"It was great that some of our guys got some time in the middle coming towards the end of the series.
"Its great that Andrew Symonds got some time out there.
"There are lots of good things to take from the game and now we have got a few days off to put our feet up and work on our
preparation before the finals."
As India crept closer to a surprise victory, Australias bowlers came under some severe pressure for the first time in the series.
Brett Lee eventually sealed the win with two wickets in two balls as he claimed a five-for, although Ponting was not entirely satisfied with the bowling unit.
"It is the first time in a while that we have been in that position and the bowlers have been under that sort of pressure and had to deliver,"he added.
"All sorts of things were happening at the end of the game and our bowling wasnt quite what it should have been."
India captain was proud of his sides run-chase, which endured a dreadful start with the loss of four wickets with just 51 runs on the board.
Gautam Gambhir hit a fine century of his own as India made a record score for a side batting second in an ODI at Sydney,
but in the end they fell just short.
"It was a very close match and were happy enough to have made it a close match because we could easily have ended
up getting bundled out for 200 runs,"Dhoni said.
"I was quite happy with the performance of the bowling unit and I should be happy with the batsmen but still I think the top order can bat better."
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