AUCKLAND, Feb 17: Ricky Ponting smashed an unbeaten 98 off 55 balls as Australia defeated New Zealand by 44 runs in their historic Twenty20 international at Eden Park here on Thursday.

The Australian captain spanked eight boundaries and five sixes in an explosive display to help his side recover from 54 for four to pile on 214-5 from their 20 overs.

Australian pace man Michael Kasprowicz captured 4-29 from his four overs as New Zealand were bowled out for 170 on the last ball of the match despite 66 from Scott Styris and 36 from Brendon McCullum.

Thursday's match was the world's first 20-over international and both teams said they believe the abbreviated form of the game could become a regular part of the international calendar.

"It was a great spectacle... everyone was excited by it," Ponting told a news conference. "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."

Styris, who struck five fours and three sixes off 39 balls before Brett Lee bowled him in the penultimate over, also gave his support to the game. "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."

Interest in the match was huge with a full house packing into Eden Park and both teams entered into the carnival atmosphere of the match. The New Zealanders wore the same beige uniforms they wore in the 1980s and some of the players were sporting facial hair and wigs.

Australian pace man Glenn McGrath embraced the irreverent nature of the match when he attempted to bowl the final delivery underarm. It was a reference to the controversial incident involving Trevor Chappell in Australia's victory over New Zealand in 1980-81 and McGrath was red-carded by extrovert umpire Billy Bowden.

The Australians, who also won the first Test in 1876-77 and limited-overs international in 1970-71 (both against England), made a flying start, smashing 46 runs off the first four overs.

They were then forced to settle down after losing Michael Clarke (7), Adam Gilchrist (1), Andrew Symonds (32) and Damien Martyn (3) early. Ponting, batting at four, began cautiously but was soon into his full stride, sharing two vital partnerships with Simon Katich, who made 30, and Mike Hussey, who finished unbeaten on 31.

Ponting reached his half-century off 35 balls when he whacked former New Zealand rugby international Jeff Wilson for six before going on the rampage in the closing overs. He and Hussey took 30 runs of the 19th over alone.

The skipper was at the non-strikers' end with two balls to go and might have reached his hundred had Hussey taken a single off the penultimate ball instead of belting it for six.

New Zealand made a strong start to their reply with McCullum and captain Stephen Fleming cracking 49 off the first five overs when things suddenly went wrong. Michael Kasprowicz bowled Fleming for 18 then had Matthew Sinclair caught for a golden duck. He missed his hat trick but claimed the scalps of McCullum and Cairns to finish with 4-29.

Earlier this month, the International Cricket Council announced it had commissioned a report into the best way to fit 20-overs cricket into the international schedule. Australia and England have already agreed to play each other in an international on this year's Ashes tour.

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