Powerplay delay pays dividends, says Ponting

ST JOHN'S/ANTIGUA: Ricky Ponting believes his decision to delay the third powerplay proved crucial in his team's seven-wicket World Cup win over England here on Sunday.   

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell were cruising along, putting on 140 runs for the third wicket as England sighted a score beyond 300 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.   

But Ponting's decision to call for the third powerplay from the 27th over paid off as Bell was quickly removed, caught by Michael Hussey off Glenn McGrath for 77, followed by the dangerous Paul Collingwood who was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off Shaun Tait for just two.   

The run-rate dried up, the English tail was exposed and Michael Vaughan's side limped to 247 all out before Australia knocked off the runs to maintain their 100-per cent record in the tournament.   

"It was a really tight game and Kevin and Ian played beautifully," admitted Ponting.   

"The intensity was the difference today. We kept up the pressure and the bowlers did a terrific job. We had to keep the third powerplay back. If you take them too early, it can be really hard work for the bowlers. So I decided to hold off a little bit to see if the ball would reverse swing. It reversed a little so we took the powerplay then and Shaun Tait in his spell was terrific," he said.

Ponting, who made 86 in his team's innings, believes mastery of the powerplay, when fielding restrictions come into operation, is a useful tool in dictating the pace of a game.   

"When they came in I think a lot of captains just wanted to get them out of the way as quickly as possible," said Ponting whose side are on top of the Super Eights table and virtually guaranteed a semi-final place.   

"But conditions vary around the world and it means sometimes it can be in your favour to take them later in an innings and today was one of those days."   

Vaughan, who failed again with the bat making just five before he was dismissed by Tait, still believes England can make the semi-finals.   

"Not many of us are playing that well and we are making it difficult for ourselves. We will have to win our next three games if we are to get to the semi-finals," he said.   

Vaughan recognised that England wasted a golden opportunity to beat their old rivals.   

"We were 164-2 and were looking at 280-290 which would have been a really competitive total. Even at 247 we were still in the game.   

"We tried to get a few wickets and put the squeeze on them but all credit to them."   

England's next match is against Bangladesh in Barbados on Wednesday while Australia, bidding for a third successive World Cup title, face Ireland, also in Barbados, on Friday.