Ponting hails bowlers for comprehensive win against Proteas

Beausejour, St. Lucia, Apr 26 (UNI) Australia captain Ricky Ponting has hailed his bowlers for the seven-wicket crushing defeat of South Africa in the cricket World Cup here.

''McGrath and Shaun (Tait) gave us a dream start and after that wickets kept falling and it became too easy for us. We have been quite successful and early pressure on the opposition have always helped us to win big games,'' he said.

''It was a World Cup semi-final and it was a huge game and I always like matches against South Africa,'' he added.

Ponting, however, admitted that he was expecting more opposition from South Africa.

''Frankly speaking, I was expecting some more toughness in the game but eventually our bowlers made it simply too easy for us.'' Asked whether Shaun Tait's performance had surprised him, he said ''he has been fantastic but has not suprirsed me.'' He said his side had the psychological advantage over Sri Lanka in the final after defeating them comprehensively in the Super Eights stage.

''The way we had been playing in the last seven weeks, and if we can execute them in the field for the last time, we can not be defeated in the final by Sri Lanka.

''They did rest three of their key bowlers against us but they had the full batting order and they collapsed and hence I am confident that we will win the Cup,'' Ponting said of the Super Eights match which they won by seven wickets.

''They have three quality bowlers in Vaas, Murali and Malinga.

All of them have been bowling well but I think we can handle them very well. It should not be a problem as we had been winning against them for some time,'' he said.

Man-of-the-match Glenn McGrath said he had enjoyed his duels with Sanath Jayasuriya.

''I know how he plays and where he hit. We love to have him and I am looking forward to meet him.'' McGrath also agreed that going by the bounce of Barbados wicket in the final, they have a definite edge with him along with Bracken and Shaun Tait bowling exceptionally well.

''We have definite edge over Sri Lanka in this sector and it is a huge advantage,'' McGrath said.

He, however, admitted that he enjoyed more playing against South Africa than Sri Lanka ''but we are ready to take home the Cup''.

UNI