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| October 31, 2006 | Tuesday | Shawwal 7, 1427 |
Ponting praises Aussie display
MOHALI, Oct 30: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting praised his team's complete display and said the six-wicket Champions Trophy victory over hosts India on Sunday had been “reasonably easy”.
“It was a pretty complete game for us,” Ponting told reporters. “To lose the toss on that wicket and to get to the total was great.
“I thought our bowlers did a great job to restrict them.
When we batted tonight we made it reasonably easy,” he added.
World champions Australia restricted India to 249 for eight on a good batting pitch and then eased to victory reaching 252 for four with 4.2 overs to spare.
Damien Martyn top-scored for the second successive game with 73 not out, while Ponting (58) and all rounder Shane Watson (50) capped a splendid top-order show.
Australia's fast bowlers, led by Glenn McGrath, kept a leash on the Indian innings after skipper Rahul Dravid elected to bat.
The win meant Australia reached the semi-finals of the biennial event, the only major tournament they have not won, for the third successive time.
“We just managed to take wickets at regular intervals which didn't allow India to get away,” Ponting said.
“I thought our bowling in the last six or seven overs was really great today. We didn't give any freebies away so that was really pleasing for us.”
He praised Watson, who has eased into the role as Adam Gilchrist's opening partner in the tournament and has been impressive bowling seam in the middle overs.
“He's got a great future, he adds flexibility to the team,” Ponting said.
Indian skipper Rahul Dravid hoped his young side would learn from the defeat.
“I won't be too critical on this inexperienced side,” he said. “They came up against a very good attack and it was a good experience for them.“We got them off to a flier,” Dravid said in reference to Australia's opening partnership from Watson and Adam Gilchrist of 61 in 8.5 overs.
“Once you got there, it was a fight with our backs to wall. The way they batted, even 270 would not have been enough,” he said.—Reuters
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