The Hindu : Ponting leads Australia to yet another facile win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Ponting leads Australia to yet another facile win

By Malcom Conn

BLOEMFONTEIN March 31 . A brilliant century by Ricky Ponting set up a resounding victory for Australia in the fourth one-day international against South Africa at Goodyear Park on Saturday to continue the World Cup champions' unbeaten run in the series.

Australia's new one-day captain scored 129 in just 126 balls with 15 fours and a six as the tourists went on to win by 37 runs as South Africa was bowled out for 253 in reply to Australia's challenging 290 for six, the highest score of the tournament.

Australia has now won three matches and tied one, leaving South Africa

needing to claim the remaining three games to avoid losing the series. On current form that appears highly unlikely given that South Africa also

lost its last three matches against Australia during the one-day triangular

with New Zealand in Australia earlier this year. South Africa has now failed to beat Australia during the past seven one-day games.

Ponting had struggled for a score since gaining the captaincy following the

shock sacking of Steve Waugh from the one-day team. The Tasmanian had scored 14, 0 and three in his new leadership role before Saturday's dominant performance.

It was Ponting's ninth one-day hundred, his first against South Africa and the highest score by an Australian against South Africa, beating the 120 not out Steve Waugh scored at Leeds in the last World Cup.

It also took Ponting into a select group of cricketers who have made three

figures against eight different countries in one-day internationals. Mark Waugh has achieved the feat against nine countries while Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have done it against eight.

Australia's continuing strong showing endorses the courageous stand of the national four-man selection panel to sack the iconic Waugh brothers. This unbeaten run in South Africa has been achieved without Shane Warne, who has not played the first four matches because of a hamstring strain.

Michael Bevan has missed the past three with a similar complaint and Glenn

McGrath returned for his 150th game after missing the previous match with a back problem. South Africa had their injury problems in this match too, with potential match-winner Lance Klusener also ruled out with a hamstring strain.

Despite his poor start in this series Ponting played with typical confidence, hitting boundaries early in his innings and charging Jacques Kallis to smash a good length delivery back over the bowler's head for six.

On a good pitch and a fast outfield South Africa was still in the match when it dismissed Damien Martyn (24 in 33 balls), bowled attempting to sweep spinner Nicky Boje, leaving Australia 3-143 in the 32nd over.

Openers Matthew Hayden (17 in 30 balls) and Adam Gilchrist (34 in 59 balls) had both struggled, suggesting the pitch may have been difficult for batting. When Darren Lehmann joined Ponting the game changed.

Ponting dominated as Lehmann played a cheeky supporting role. By the time the South Australian captain was bowled, walking across his stumps, by Shane Pollock for 39 off 37 balls, he had helped add 119 in just 92 balls for the fourth wicket.

Brett Lee highlighted the struggle South Africa's bowlers endured when he lifted the last ball of the innings, delivered by Jacques Kallis, over long off for six.

Despite a reshuffled top order, which saw left-handed Graeme Smith make his debut, Herschelle Gibbs left out, Gary Kirsten recalled and all-rounder

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