Australia demolished England by eight wickets in an emphatic return to form at the Twenty20 World Championship - but even that crushing win had nothing on the severity of Ricky Ponting's parting shot at Kevin Pietersen.
The outspoken England star's call to "humiliate" the world champions came back to haunt him in a big way at Newlands as Australia, less than two days after being stunned by minnows Zimbabwe, handed the old enemy a comprehensive thrashing.
Nathan Bracken snared 3-16 and man-of-the-match honours as England were bundled out for 135 before Matthew Hayden's unbeaten 67 from 43 balls piloted Australia to victory with a massive 31 balls to spare.
The win secured Australia's place in the Super Eights of the tournament, while avoiding the indignity of a first-round exit.
It also gave Ponting the perfect opportunity to line-up Pietersen at the post-match press conference - and the skipper didn't miss.
Pietersen boiled Australian blood when he said after England's win over Zimbabwe on Thursday: "We were humiliated by Australia (in the last Ashes series) and now we're in a position of strength where we can pretty much humiliate them ... It's an opportunity of a lifetime."
Ponting didn't hold back in response.
"Comments, unless you can back them up, don't mean anything at all," the captain bristled.
"They had their chance today to do what he said they wanted to do, 'a once in a lifetime opportunity ... to try and humiliate Australia'.
"They had the opportunity, and if anything they're the ones who have walked off humiliated today."
Having been left "embarrassed" by Australia's five-wicket loss to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, Ponting was gushing in praise of his side on Friday.
Australia's four-pronged pace attack of Bracken, Mitchell Johnson (3-22), Stuart Clark (2-24) and Brett Lee (1-31) were superb.
Andrew Flintoff top scored with 31, while Pietersen added 21, but Australia's disciplined attack ensured England struggled to get their run-rate over six-an-over for much of the innings.
The final three overs - bowled by Bracken and Clark - in particular, were an unmitigated disaster as England lost four wickets for just eight runs.
Australia had no such problems taking to the English bowling attack.
After collapsing to 3-19 against Zimbabwe, Australia's top order dominated the run chase with Adam Gilchrist blazing 45 in a 78-run opening partnership with Hayden before Ponting hit a quick-fire 20.
"I thought we were excellent today," Ponting said.
"We had our backs to the wall going into the game against a team that's been playing a lot of cricket and a team that's a lot more experienced than us in this format of the game, and we've come away with a very, very comprehensive win, so I'm extremely happy with what we've done.
"I think we showed a lot of character to bounce back the way we have.
"If we hadn't learnt from the mistakes we made (against Zimbabwe) we would have all been dummies.
"We respected the game a lot more today I think and the result has been a lot different."
Australia play Bangladesh in Cape Town on Sunday in their first match of the Super Eights, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka also drawn in their group.
Courtesy:Brisbanetimes.com
Friday, September 14, 2007
Ricky Ponting asks' who's humiliated now?'
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