Ashes - Ponting confident for Champions Trophy

Eurosport - Wed, 16 Sep 09:38:00 2009

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the latest one-day win over England bodes well for their Champions Trophy campaign which begins in South Africa next week.

CRICKET 2009 - Australia's Ricky Ponting hits out watched by England's Prior during the fourth one-day international cricket match at Lord's - 0

A superb century from the skipper paved the way for the world champions to win by four wickets in the fifth one-day international at Trent Bridge to move 5-0 up in the seven-match series.

Set a seemingly challenging 300, master batsman Ponting's 126 - his best ODI score against England, surpassing the 119 he made at Melbourne in 2002 - took Australia to within sight of victory.

They still needed 39 off 36 balls after Stuart Broad had struck twice in the 44th over, dismissing Callum Ferguson plumb lbw and Ponting after driving to Owais Shah at long-off.

But Cameron White and Mitchell Johnson, who ended the match with a six off Ryan Sidebottom, saw Australia home with 10 balls to spare.

"I felt good all day," said Ponting. "Michael Clarke and myself got us in a position where I would have been disappointed if we hadn't won the game.

"It shows our one-day cricket is going the right away ahead of the Champions Trophy.

"Anyone we've rested over the last few years has generally come back and played really well."

England captain Andrew Strauss said his side's batting had improved - they made 299 - but that several misfields had let them down.

"The batting was bolder and Eoin Morgan embodied that but the fielding was poor, there was no excuse," he reflected.

"In a tight game, you don't want to let yourselves down in an elementary area."

Former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan top-scored for England with 58 - his best for his adopted country.

AFP

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