India will beat Pakistan: Ponting
Motera, March 24: Here's a hot tip from the man they call Punter. 'India will beat Pakistan in the second semifinal,' predicts Ricky Ponting. Coming as it does from the man under whose captaincy Australia's 34-match unbeaten streak in the World Cup has been punctured by two successive defeats ' by 4 wickets at the hands of Shahid Afridi's men at Colombo and then by 5 wickets against MS Dhoni & Co at Motera ' this March 30 forecast for Mohali could be labelled as expert opinion.
Disappointment writ large across his face after Thursday's encounter against India, Ponting says: 'We fell around 15-20 runs short and needed more wickets in the middle of the innings. With 15 overs to go, it was touch and go, but Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina played really well. It's disappointing to bow out; we are a better team than we showed. But full credit to the Indians; they were better on the day.'
That defeat coincided with his 30th ODI century would appear to have somewhat assuaged Ponting's hurt, more so as he went into the contest with question marks against his future. 'This could be my last game in the World Cup. If it is, knowing that I scored a century in my last innings in the event will make me feel good,' he reasons.
Down though he might be in the current context, the 36-year-old reiterates that he will not bow out and continue his career as international cricketer. 'What did I tell you the other day? Nothing has changed.' Or maybe everything has changed. Knowing the unforgiving ways of Australian cricket, even Punter would not bet on his future.
Motera, March 24: Here's a hot tip from the man they call Punter. 'India will beat Pakistan in the second semifinal,' predicts Ricky Ponting. Coming as it does from the man under whose captaincy Australia's 34-match unbeaten streak in the World Cup has been punctured by two successive defeats ' by 4 wickets at the hands of Shahid Afridi's men at Colombo and then by 5 wickets against MS Dhoni & Co at Motera ' this March 30 forecast for Mohali could be labelled as expert opinion.
Disappointment writ large across his face after Thursday's encounter against India, Ponting says: 'We fell around 15-20 runs short and needed more wickets in the middle of the innings. With 15 overs to go, it was touch and go, but Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina played really well. It's disappointing to bow out; we are a better team than we showed. But full credit to the Indians; they were better on the day.'
That defeat coincided with his 30th ODI century would appear to have somewhat assuaged Ponting's hurt, more so as he went into the contest with question marks against his future. 'This could be my last game in the World Cup. If it is, knowing that I scored a century in my last innings in the event will make me feel good,' he reasons.
Down though he might be in the current context, the 36-year-old reiterates that he will not bow out and continue his career as international cricketer. 'What did I tell you the other day? Nothing has changed.' Or maybe everything has changed. Knowing the unforgiving ways of Australian cricket, even Punter would not bet on his future.
News Posted: 25 March, 2011
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