Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.

News

 
 
Ponting gets his wish

Ponting gets his wish

03/09/2010 10:25:33 AM

Australia's commanding six-wicket win over New Zealand is just the performance captain Ricky Ponting has been wanting from his troops since the tour began.

A Brad Haddin century helped Australia go 2-1 up in the Chappell-Hadlee series after the win at Seddon Park in Hamilton showed the full potential of its ability.

After Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris decimated the Kiwi batsmen and kept them to just 245, Haddin stepped in and forged a big partnership with Ponting that spelled the end for the home side.

Ponting said the performance was exactly what he has been hoping for since the series began with a loss in the first ODI in Napier and an unconvincing win in Auckland on Saturday.

"That's what we've been talking about and what I've been asking the boys to deliver," he said.

"I know that if one or two of our guys gets 80 plus or 100, we're going to get well over 300 every time we bat."

"This has been the performance we've been looking for after the first couple of games. It was a lot more commanding performance and Brad obviously played a massive part in us winning tonight."

"It was a very, very convincing win tonight and to take the power play as late as we did, we did it pretty easily. But this game changes very quickly and we can't afford to think this'll happen again on Thursday. We've played our best cricket today so the momentum, if there's any, is obviously with us."

Haddin reached his highest ever ODI score with 110 in the innings and never looked too troubled from a New Zealand attack that struggled to get a vital breakthrough when needed.

The 32-year-old wicket keeper said he felt good in the innings and was pleased to have responded to Ponting's call for the top-order to improve.

"I felt pretty comfortable today," he said. "I think the majority of our top-order has been in pretty good nick since we arrived in New Zealand."

"Ricky has obviously challenged us over the last couple of days for a couple of us to go on and spend some time in the middle to get some big partnerships. I was lucky enough to get 100 tonight so it was good fun."

Australia heads to Auckland on Wednesday before the fourth match of the series that will be played at Eden Park on Thursday.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

Latest Headlines

 
 
Clarke: Forrest Test prospect
Clarke: Forrest Test prospect
Cricket
02/09/2012 06:24:08 AM
Michael Clarke believes one-day international squad member Peter Forrest can continue his ...
 
 
Ellis joins Twenty20 mix
Cricket
02/09/2012 03:45:38 AM
 
NZ bat first in Napier
Cricket
02/09/2012 12:46:33 AM
 
Mahela not worried
Cricket
02/09/2012 12:12:24 AM
 
Dhoni: Heat on batsmen
Cricket
02/08/2012 07:29:09 PM
 
 
 

Your Say

 
 

Galleries

 
 
Photos of the Week
28/11/2011 3:33:38 PM
The golf season is getting into full swing; A League is continuing plus heaps more. So take a break from work and look thought the photo gallery of the week’s best sporting action.
The Weekend Sporting Action
18/10/2011 2:21:08 PM
The sport never slows down around the world. Check out the latest action from the weekend.