Ponting makes 98 as Australia belt Kiwi bowlers
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Ricky Ponting finished two runs short of a century after helping Australia to pile on 214 for five in their historic Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland today.
Ricky Ponting finished two runs short of a century after helping Australia to pile on 214 for five in their historic Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland today.
The Australian skipper was left stranded on 98 not out after he rebuilt the innings with an explosive display of big hitting in the world's first 20-over international. Australia made a flying start, smashing 46 runs off the first four overs, but were forced to settle down after losing Michael Clarke (7), Adam Gilchrist (1) and Andrew Symonds (32) early.
Ponting, batting at four, began cautiously but was soon into full stride. He reached his half-century off 35 balls when he whacked former New Zealand rugby player Jeff Wilson for six and finished with eight fours and five sixes off only 55 balls. He was at the non-strikers end with two balls to go and might have reached his hundred had Mike Hussey (31 not out) taken a single off the penultimate ball instead of belting it for six.
Symonds spanked two sixes and four fours to make 32 off just 32 balls but was caught behind off Kyle Mills, who captured three wickets for the Kiwis.
Australia lost their fourth wicket at 54 when Mills bowled Damien Martyn for three but Simon Katich (30) added 83 with Ponting for the fifth wicket before Hussey shared an unbroken stand of 77 with his skipper including 30 off the second-last over.
Interest in the match has been huge with speculation that Twenty20 could become a regular part of the international calendar.
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