Watson, Ponting hit centuries to carry Australia to final
By IANSFriday, October 2, 2009
CENTURION - Unbeaten centuries from opener Shane Watson and skipper Ricky Ponting kept defending champions Australia in contention to retain the title after they knocked out England from the Champions Trophy with nine wickets in the semi-final at the SuperSport Park here Friday.
Chasing a target of 258, Watson (136 not out) and Ricky Ponting (111 not out) were in complete control of the game as Australia romped home in 41.5 overs.
England were bowled out for 257 runs in 47.4 overs after captain Andrew Strauss opted to bat.
Watson and Ponting mocked the English bowling and shared an unbroken stand of 252 for the second wicket and surpassed many records enroute to the win. Australia will now play the winner of the match between Pakistan and New Zealand in the final.
Both Ponting and Watson were in complete command of the innings after opening batsman Tim Paine departed early in the second over.
Ponting scored his 28th ODI century during his 115 balls innings, while Man of the match Watson with his 136 not out from 132 balls scored his highest and third century in 89 games.
Earlier in the day, a defiant 107-run seventh-wicket stand between Luke Wright (48) and Tim Bresnan (80) pulled out England after they were in total disarray at 101 for six. Joe Denly (36) and Paul Collingwood (34) also played crucial knocks.
Peter Siddle picked up three for 55, while Brett Lee and Shane Watson bagged two wickets each.
