AUSTRALIA TOOK A 1-0 SERIES LEAD OVER NEW ZEALAND IN THE CHAPPELL-HADLEE TROPHY IN ADELAIDE THANKS MAINLY TO AN UNBEATEN CENTURY FROM CAPTAIN RICKY PONTING.

NEW ZEALAND HAD SCORED A VERY RESPECTABLE 254-7 IN THEIR 50 OVERS WITH BRENDON MCULLUM TOP-SCORING WITH 96 BUT, AS IT TURNED OUT, IT WAS NEVER REALLY GOING TO BE ENOUGH AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

PONTING SCORED AT ALMOST A RUN A BALL SMASHING 107 FROM ONLY 108 BALLS AFTER ADAM GILCHRIST AND MATTHEW HAD GIVEN AUSTRALIA A GREAT START BY HITTING THE FIRST 69 IN 7 OVERS.