Archives

MELBOURNE, Dec 15 (Reuters)

Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist shared a record partnership as Australia smashed a record 318 for six against England on Sunday in the second match of a triangular one-day tournament.

Australia's total was their highest against England, beating the previous mark of 283 for five in Brisbane in 1990-91.

Gilchrist smashed 124 from 104 balls and Ponting hit 119 from 123 balls, adding 225 for the second wicket from 206 balls after Australia opener Matthew Hayden was out to the bowling of James Kirtley for four in the third over.

Australia's previous best for any partnership in one-day internationals was the 224 by Dean Jones and Allan Border for the third wicket against Sri Lanka in Adelaide in 1984-85.

After Australia captain Ponting had won the toss and elected to bat in sunny conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Gilchrist hit the first ball of the innings through cover for four.

Australia's run rate ballooned after Ponting joined the opener and they clubbed seven sixes between them, Gilchrist reaching his 100 in the 34th over with a single through the off-side from the bowling of off-spinner Gareth Batty.

CELEBRATION

The left-hander's century, his seventh in one-day internationals, came in 138 minutes off 92 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.

The Australia vice-captain celebrated by hitting Batty for consecutive sixes over long-on in the following over and Ponting also reached his 13th one-day century with a single after pushing a ball from Ian Blackwell through mid-off in the 37th over.

The captain's 100 came in 136 minutes from 108 ball with nine fours and two sixes.

Gilchrist's 154-ball innings ended when he edged a ball outside off-stump from debutant paceman James Anderson on to his stumps in the 38th over at 240 for two. The left-hander had smashed 12 boundaries and four sixes.

Batty took his first wicket in one-day internationals when he bowled Michael Bevan for three around his legs in the 39th over as Australia lost wickets in consecutive overs.

Ponting was caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Blackwell at 271 for four after hitting nine fours and three sixes in his 123-ball stay.

Damien Martyn fell for nine without addition to the total and all-rounder Shane Watson became Blackwell's second victim in the 46th over at 286 for nine, leaving tailender Shane Warne as Darren Lehmann's new partner.

The pair added 32 for the seventh wicket in 25 balls with Warne hitting Kirtley over long-off for six from the penultimate delivery of the innings.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager