Ponting century piles misery on England

Published on Tuesday 15 September 2009 22:51

A MAJESTIC century from Australia captain Ricky Ponting piled on the misery for England's faltering one-day side, as the tourists went 5-0 up in NatWest series at Trent Bridge.

Ponting, who was rested from the first three games of the seven-match series, made a relentless 126 off 109 balls to see his side to a four-wicket win with 1.4 overs to spare. England had earlier made their best score of the series, Eoin Morgan top-scoring with a breezy 58 as they made 299 all out. But Ponting's innings was a class apart, his 27th one-day hundred including 14 boundaries and three big sixes. Opener Tim Paine (16) was first out in the tourists' reply, mistiming a hook off Tim Bresnan and providing Adil Rashid with a simple catch.

That brought captain Ponting to the crease alongside Shane Watson and the pair moved along quickly before the latter went for 36, Bresnan again the bowler as he chipped to Dimitri Mascarenhas at mid-on.

Ponting looked in fine touch, though, smashing Ryan Sidebottom high into the stands for Australia's first maximum in the 12th over. And

a four off the Perth-raised all-rounder brought up Ponting's half-century off 51 balls. The 34-year-old continued to look untroubled as the third-wicket stand passed 100 and moved to 97 with consecutive sixes off Rashid.

He soon had his hundred, a dabbed single bringing up the landmark in 92 balls, but Clarke fell for 52 immediately afterwards when he lifted Rashid to Shah on the rope.

Mike Hussey made just six before Mascarenhas sent him back, courtesy of Ryan Sidebottom's catch. Callum Ferguson was given lbw to Broad for 17 and the Nottinghamshire bowler took the wicket of Ponting, who found Owais Shah at long-off, in the same over to give England hope.

Ponting had done enough, though, with Cameron White (24 not out) and Johnson, who ended proceedings with a six, finishing the job.

Morgan had earlier played the key innings as England set a tough target. Andrew Strauss and Joe Denly put on a promising stand of 61, with the captain in particularly authoritative form as he hit Peter Siddle for three fours in four balls.

Morgan stole the show with three sixes.

The Irishman's 58, his first half-century for England, took only 41 balls with 34 coming in boundaries.

Mascarenhas (19) and Broad (22) scored at better than a run-a-ball and Rashid made 18 off nine deliveries before being last out on the final ball of the innings.