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Batsmen need to work a bit: Ponting

January 11, 2004 17:34 IST
Last Updated: January 11, 2004 17:35 IST


Australia may have inflicted a huge 99-run defeat on Zimbabwe in the second match of the VB series on Sunday but skipper Ricky Ponting was not happy and urged his batsmen to get back to their best form.

The much vaunted Australian batting line up was restricted to 225 by the unfancied Zimbabwe before the bowlers came to the rescue of the hosts to help their side script a one-sided win.

"Our bowlers did a good job but our batters have bit of a work to do," Ponting said.

"We did not play at our best with the bat," said the World Cup winning skipper.

Australia were in a spot of bother when Zimbabwe bowlers restricted them to 118 for five but in-form batsmen Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke again came good to help them record a respectable total.

"There was litlle bit in the wicket as (Brad) Williams showed and the bowlers did some early damage grabbing a few wickets," he said referring to the Zimbabwe collapse when they lost five wickets with just 17 runs on the board.

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was a little surprised with his batsmen's poor show after a superb effort by the bowlers and fielders.

"It was a good allround show by our bowlers and fielders and I thought the total was gettable," Streak said.

"The (Australian) opening bowlers bowled well and the ball seamed around and jagged a bit. Still the target could be reached but unfortunately we kept losing wickets," he said.

The skipper was nonetheless happy with his spinners' performance. "Raymond (Price) and Grant (Flower) did a fantastic job and I hope they will continue in the same way in the rest of the series."

Man-of-the-match Brad Williams, who bagged five wickets for the second time in his career, was elated with his effort.

"I am having a good time," he quipped.

"The pitch was doing a bit. I just had to hit the deck and that is precisely what I was trying to do," he said.

The next match in the series pits India against Zimbabwe at Hobart on Wednesday.


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