England are on the verge of claiming “bragging rights” over Australia in all three forms of the game following their second straight four-wicket win in the five match ODI series.
A four-wicket haul by England fast bowler Stuart Broad and a half-century by youngster Eoin Morgan led the Three Lions to a remarkable win in the second ODI at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.
England, who won the 2009 Ashes series and last month’s Twenty20 World Cup final against Australia, lead the series 2-0 ahead of Sunday’s game three at Old Trafford in Manchester.
However, Ponting said that England had some distance to go before they could be considered to hold an edge over his men.
“Have a look at our head to heads and see who has got the bragging rights. Test cricket, one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket. Tell me who has the bragging rights,” Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.
Chasing 240 to win, England overhauled the target with 24 balls to spare.
Morgan followed his unbeaten century in Tuesday’s opening game at the Rose Bowl with an innings of 52 from 64 balls, while contributions from skipper Andrew Strauss (51) and Paul Collingwood (48) proved enough to help England romp home.
Morgan also shared a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 83 with Collingwood.
The two batsmen were dismissed in quick succession, but Tim Bresnan (12 not out) and Graeme Swann (15 not out) saw England home.
Doug Bollinger was the most successful bowler for Australia taking three wickets for 46 from his 10 overs.
Earlier in the day, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first, but Broad took four wickets for 44 to restrict the visitors to a moderate 239-7.
Cameron White was the top-scorer with an unbeaten 86, while Shane Watson scored 57 off 59 balls and Steve Smith 41 off 53 balls.
Brief Scorecard:
Australia-- 239-7 (White 86 not out, Watson 57, Broad 4-44)
England-- 243-6 (Morgan 52, Strauss 51, Bollinger 3-46)
