plays a checked drive down towards point and scampers a single, beats the throw at the bowler's end and Australia complete a nine-wicket rout
England vs Australia, 1st Semi-Final at Centurion, Oct 02 2009 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st Semi-Final (D/N), Centurion, October 02, 2009, ICC Champions Trophy
New
AUS
Full commentary
Ponting and Watson make light work of this target. We said at the interval that England did a commendable job by pushing the score to a level which could make Australia sweat. Perhaps another 70 runs would have been safe. It just shows how an in-form Ponting makes such a difference to Australia's fortunes. That rubbed off on Watson, who blazed his way with frightening pulls.
So the defending champions progress to their second consecutive final. Stay with us for the presentation.
Strauss: When you lose 6 for 100 runs it's always difficult to get back but Bresnan and Wright did well. Our shots didn't come off today. We can take a lot from this tournament but Australia outplayed us today. They've got a good mix. It was disappointing to lose Broad but Bresnan did magnificently with the bat."
Ponting: I thought we got a little carried away in the middle overs, looking for wickets but the England pair did really well. There's a lot of energy in this group, we're in the final so well done everybody. I told the boys that every ball we face is a contest. Personal stats don't always motivate me, I look to finish the job for my team. Watson's peaking at the right time. His spell to the left-handers was terrific."
Watson is the Man of the Match: "It (my form) couldn't get much worse at the start of the tournament. Ricky spoke to me a lot through the innings. Hopefully the injuries are behind me now. It was a beautiful wicket out there. It is time for me and others to put out hands up for this team after losing a lot of senior guys."
We shall find out tomorrow who meets Australia in the finals. It's another day-nighter, this time at the Wanderers between Pakistan and New Zealand, starting at 12.30 GMT. Thanks for your company today and all the mails.
On behalf of Sid Talya, this is Kanishkaa signing off. Cheers guys!
41.5
1
Anderson to Ponting, 1 run
41.4
1
Anderson to Watson, 1 run
swivels and attempts a pull but he keeps it along the ground to fine leg
41.3
1
Anderson to Ponting, 1 run
full on middle and leg and he works it down to long-on
41.2
1
Anderson to Watson, 1 run
gets forward to a full delivery and pushes it down to mid-off
41.1
1lb
Anderson to Ponting, 1 leg bye
slides on the pads and the ball trickles away to square leg
end of over 4123 runs
AUS: 253/1CRR: 6.17 • RRR: 0.55
Shane Watson134 (130b 10x4 7x6)
Ricky Ponting109 (112b 12x4 1x6)
Paul Collingwood 8-0-50-0
James Anderson 8-0-44-0
40.6
6
PD Collingwood to Watson, SIX runs
this time he clears wide long-on, fuller in length, he gets on his knee and enjoys a free swing of the arms
40.5
6
PD Collingwood to Watson, SIX runs
if you're somewhere behind deep square leg reading this, please take cover! Watson's just having a blast bashing them around, flat and quick off the bat, this man has tremendous bat speed, luckily the kids at the grass embankment were alert enough
40.4
•
PD Collingwood to Watson, no run
cuts it straight to point
40.3
6
PD Collingwood to Watson, SIX runs
he's making a living out of flat sixes today, friendly short delivery, he clubs it over deep square, no casualties in the crowd this time, thankfully
40.2
1
PD Collingwood to Ponting, 1 run
full on the off stump and pushed to mid-off
The highest partnership for any wicket for Australia in ODIs is 237. This pair is well within reach of breaking that record.
40.1
4
PD Collingwood to Ponting, FOUR runs
four less needed, friendly long hop from Collingwood and Ponting bends his knee slightly and exploits the yawning gap at deep square leg
They've taken the 3rd Powerplay
end of over 406 runs
AUS: 230/1CRR: 5.75 • RRR: 2.80
Shane Watson116 (126b 10x4 4x6)
Ricky Ponting104 (110b 11x4 1x6)
James Anderson 8-0-44-0
Tim Bresnan 8-0-51-0
39.6
4
Anderson to Watson, FOUR runs
short down the leg side and the batsman can't resist a hook, the ball balloons off the top edge and just clears Davies who leaps in vain
39.5
•
Anderson to Watson, no run
clips it towards short midwicket and tells his partner to stay back
39.4
•
Anderson to Watson, no run
gets behind the line again and defends
39.3
•
Anderson to Watson, no run
stays right behind the line and taps it to mid-on
39.2
1
Anderson to Ponting, 1 run
gets an inside edge but the ball trickles past the stumps
39.1
1
Anderson to Watson, 1 run
opens the face of the bat and runs it down to third man
end of over 399 runs
AUS: 224/1CRR: 5.74 • RRR: 3.09
Shane Watson111 (121b 9x4 4x6)
Ricky Ponting103 (109b 11x4 1x6)
Tim Bresnan 8-0-51-0
James Anderson 7-0-38-0
38.6
1
Bresnan to Watson, 1 run
not short enough to pull, he places it to square leg
38.5
1
Bresnan to Ponting, 1 run
pushes it down to backward point
38.4
1
Bresnan to Watson, 1 run
plays it to sweeper cove
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