Ponting Century Sets Up Convincing Brisbane Victory

Australia 324-7 (Ponting 106, White 63) beat
West Indies 274-8 (Pollard 62, Smith 59no) by 50 runs
Fourth One-Day International, Brisbane
Scorecard

Ricky Ponting's first One-Day International century at Brisbane, and 29th overall, helped set up a series-clinching 50-run win over the West Indies for Australia.

Ponting's 106 steered Austraila to 324 for seven and they assumed a 3-0 series lead with one match to play by restricting the West Indians to 274 for eight.

West Indies put Australia in to bat and removed openers Shane Watson (26) and Tim Paine (24) inside 16 overs before Ponting and Cameron White (63) put on 131 for the third wicket to put Australia in control. Ponting stroked six fours and two sixes in 112 balls and White hammered two fours and one six in 78 balls.

After those two had set the platform, the remaining batsmen were given free license to hit out, which they did to good effect, Adam Voges (16 in ten balls), Michael Hussey (23 in 17) and James Hopes (42 in 21) scoring quickly and freely to push Australia past 300. despite Dwayne Smith and Darren Sammy taking two wickets.

Smith was left unbeaten on 59 in 63 balls as the West Indies were unable to keep up with the required run rate after losing early wickets, Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris both picking up a brace.

Chris Gayle thumped 34 in 21 balls before the dismissals of Travis Dowlin (8), Lendl Simmons (1), Wavell Hinds (20) and Denesh Ramdin (15) left them with a mountain to climb.

Narsingh Deonarine chipped in with 53 before leaving it to big-hitters Kieron Pollard and Smith and although the pair blasted five sixes between them, Pollard smashing 62 in 55 balls for his maiden ODI half-century, they had been left with too much to do and Australia held their nerve, Hopes, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz also taking a wicket.

The fifth and final match is in Melbourne on 19th February prior to two Twenty20 Internationals in Hobart (21st February) and Sydney (23rd February).

© Cricket World 2010

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