da realsbet： Ricky Ponting started his season of first-class cricket in dazzling styletoday
Rick Eyre26-Oct-2000Ricky Ponting started his season of first-class cricket in dazzling styletoday. The dashing Tasmanian right-hander has gone to stumps on 207 not outon the opening day of the Pura Cup match against Queensland at Allan BorderField, Brisbane.Ponting dominated the Tasmanian Tigers’ innings today. After Tasmaniancaptain Jamie Cox won the toss and elected to bat, the Tigers are 5/356 atstumps.Ponting’s 28th first-class century was scored after he came to crease withTasmania in a spot of early bother at 2/10, Cox (0) and Di Venuto (5) bothdeparting in the first seven overs at the hands of Adam Dale and Andy Bichelrespectively. In just under five and a half hours at the crease today,Ponting faced 277 balls and blasted an amazing 33 fours and four sixes.He was especially severe on Queensland left-arm spinner Matthew Anderson,whom he struck at one point of the day for a six and three fours offsuccessive deliveries. Ponting’s first hundred came from 148 deliveries, andhis second from 122.Ponting’s best support of the day came from Daniel Marsh (61) and ShaunYoung, who contributed 22 out of a 101-run partnership for the fifth wicket.Most successful of the Queensland bowlers was Andy Bichel, with 3/91.Promising fast bowler Ashley Noffke (0/112) did not have such a good day.When play resumes tomorrow morning, Ponting will need four more to equal hishighest score in first-class cricket, 211 for Tasmania against WesternAustralia at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, in 1994-95. With him in the morning willbe Andrew Dykes (23*).