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Australia win historic match

A fantastic night for the world's first Twenty20 Cricket International was held on a beautiful summer's evening at Eden park.

Ricky Ponting and Stephen Fleming have both given their support to Twenty20 cricket after Australia's convincing 44-run victory over the Kiwis in the inaugral international at Eden Park in Auckland.

The visitors pummelled 214-5 from their allotted 20 overs, before dismissing the Kiwis, who wore their beige retro 1980’s World Series kit, for 170.

The Trans-Tasman skippers were unanimous in the view that the even shorter version of the game has a place on the international circuit.

"It was great fun. I think the fans have had a very enjoyable day," said Ponting who was named man-of-the-match for his 98 not out from 55 balls.

"There's still a lot of issues to be worked through with how we're going to fit it into the international programme but tonight was certainly a good start."

"From the players' point of view, the game was exciting to play. Hopefully it's here to stay," Fleming told the BBC.

"We're a little disappointed we didn't win, but we're still happy with the entertainment the game provided."

Ponting, who has played one game previously for his county Somerset, was pleased that he could make a contribution to his team's victory in this historic encounter.

"We found ourselves in a bit of trouble early on, so someone had to dig in and hang around.

"As it worked out, that someone was me and I was lucky to still be there at the end, and to hit a few over the rope at the same time," said Ponting.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's top scorer Scott Styris also believes that the Twenty20 cricket has the potential to have a great following, especially with the 'younger generation'.

"I think it has its place, it attracts the crowds that might not be the cricket purists, the younger generation," he said.

"Today was a good example, almost 30,000 was a good advert for cricket in New Zealand.

"We've had a pretty lean summer and for people to come out and support it shows it's got merit," he said.

The next Twenty20 international scheduled on the global calendar is the match between England and Australia preceding the Ashes tour in June.

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