Ricky Ponting’s ton guides http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in quarter-final – ICC World Cup 2011
Australia posted a decent total of 260 runs in their quarter-final match of the ICC World Cup 2011 against India at Ahmedabad. It will be a tough ask for India to chase down the total and if they do so, they will face arch-rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the semi-final
of the event.
Ricky Ponting won the toss for his team and elected to bat first. He expected the wicket to slow down in the second half of the match and predicted that 250 would be a decent total on this wicket.
The Australian openers Brad Haddin and Shane Watson gave their team a steady start with a 40-run opening stand. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 failed to carry onto the start he got today, as he was dismissed after scoring 25 runs off 38 balls.
Haddin was then joined by captain Ponting in the middle, and the pair put together 70 runs for the second wicket. The wicketkeeper batsman scored a terrific half-century before getting out for 53. He struck six fours and one massive six in his innings.
Australia lost star batsmen Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Michael Hussey early. Both failed to find the middle of their bat and got out for eight and three respectively. This saw the Kangaroos struggling at 150 for the loss of four wickets.
Cameron White and Ponting put together 40 runs for the fifth wicket, but White had to struggle for his runs yet again. He managed only 12 runs off 22 balls before he chipped one straight into the hands of Zaheer Khan off his own bowling.
The younger Hussey, David, was given a chance in this match ahead of Steve Smith, and he didn’t disappoint his team. He played well and lifted the run-rate with some boundaries at the start of his innings.
However, the highlight of the Australian innings was a magnificent century from Ponting. The veteran cricketer was criticised for his form, but he responded with a spectacular innings today. The stylish first-drop player amassed 104 runs from 118 balls in
difficult batting conditions. He got out in an attempt to play a reverse sweep in the death overs.
David Hussey remained unbeaten on 38 off 26 balls to guide his team’s total over the 250-run mark. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yuvraj-Singh-c98364 took two wickets each for the hosts and didn’t give away too many runs.
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