The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia completes clean sweep

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Australia completes clean sweep

NAPIER, MARCH 5. Captain Ricky Ponting returned from injury on Saturday to make an unbeaten 141, leading Australia to a 122-run win over New Zealand and a sweep of the five-match limited-overs series.

Ponting's 127-ball innings helped Australia post 347 for five after being put in.

His personal total was the eighth highest by an Australian in limited-overs internationals and the highest by any batsman at McLean Park, where short boundaries favour high scoring.

Australia's total was also the highest on the ground, the second highest by Australia against New Zealand and its fifth-highest total against any team.

Weight of target

New Zealand wilted under the weight of its target and in the face of a blazing opening spell from speedster Brett Lee, who topped 160 kph twice in his first over.

The home team managed only 225 for eight in 50 overs to concede its first 5-0 sweep in a home one-day series.

New Zealand was disadvantaged by the loss of all-rounder Chris Cairns, who pulled a hamstring in the early overs of the match and was unable to bat or bowl.

Ponting's innings included 10 fours and five sixes and built on a foundation laid by Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist had earlier hit 91 from 61 balls to set Australia on the path to a massive total.

— Agencies

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport