Punter, McGrath shine as Australia crush Scotland by 203 runs

Basseterre, St Kitts, Mar 15 (UNI) Ricky Ponting hit his fourth World Cup ton as Australia began their title defence in style by crushing minnows Scotland by 203 runs in a Pool A mismatch of the World Cup here.

Spearheaded by veteran Glenn McGrath, the Aussies packed up Scotland for just 131 in the 41st over after skipper Ponting scored a brilliant 113 (91 balls) to propel them to an imposing 334 for six.

In his second consecutive century in the premier event after the mighty 140 against India in the 2003 final, Ponting hit five sixes thus overhauling Sourav Ganguly's record of 23 sixes in the quadrennial extravaganza.

As he opened his account with a four off Doughie Brown, the Tasmanian became the sixth person to score 1,000 World Cup runs.

McGrath then took three for 14 in six overs as Scotland could muster only for 131 for nine with one batsman failing to take to the field. However, Smith showed grit against the mighty Aussie attack and scored a fine 51 to become the first Scot to score a World Cup half-century.

Toss was the only thing the Scots won and captain Craig Wright invited the defending champions to bat.

Not quite a flier but Adam Gilchrist and Hayden provided Australia a sound start and more importantly self-belief as the baggy greens were playing their first competitive ODI after a five-match losing streak.

Gilchrist fell four runs short of his half century when the Aussies were 91 in the 17th over.

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper batsman was trapped infront of the wicket by former England one-day all-rounder Dougie Brown's. He had hit seven fours in his 55-ball stay.

Returning from a toe injury, Matthew Hayden looked in good nick and showed eveything was fine with his foot as he marched down the pitch to loft Paul Hoffman for a mighty six over long-on in the seventh over.

In came Ponting and the Tasmanian reached 1,000-run mark in the premier event when he hit Brown for four. He was dropped wicketkeeper Colin Smith off Brown at 23. Not many teams can afford to drop Ponting and get away with that. Scotland were to learn the lesson well.

Ponting went on a rampage and Hayden's departure at 60 (73 balls, six fours) hardly went noticed. He smashed spinner Majid Haq for six over long-on to bring up the team's 150 and then lofted left-arm spinner Glenn Rogers in the next over to produce the same result.

Ponting went on to hit three more sixes as he overhauled Sourav Ganguly's record of 23 world cup sixes enroute to his 23rd century.

He finally fell to Wright in 46th over when the Australia scorecard read 274 for five.

Brad Hogg (40, 15 balls, 3x4, 3x6) cut loose towards the end and together with Shane Watson (18) notched 58 runs in 23 balls to take his team well over 300.

Shaun Tait consistently bowled over 90 miles-an-hour mark and castled Navdeep singh Poonia for one after opener Majid Haq had been run out for 16.

McGrath claimed Fraser Watts, Ryan Watson and Gavin Hamilton as Scotland slumped for 42 for five before Smith dropped the anchor.

UNI