Batsmen let us down, says Ponting

Mumbai, Oct 18 (UNI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting today admitted their batting was not upto the mark, after suffering a shock 10-run defeat to West Indies in their Group 'A' Champions Trophy match at the Brabourne stadium here today.

Speaking to newspersons at the post-match briefing, he said that getting 235 was going to be hard work on this wicket and 'we needed a sound start, but unfortunately we lost Shane (Watson) early and then lost myself and Martyn''.

''It was disappointing to lose, but we cannot blame the wicket for our loss, though the wicket did take more spin in the evening,'' Ponting said.

The Aussie captain also praised ''hat-trick man'' Jerome Taylor.

''He has a smooth action and has the ability to swing the ball both ways. He bowled very well today,'' Ponting added.

Stand-in Windies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan said that the victory for them was not a surprise. ''It was a well executed win.'' Sarwan, who captained West Indies in the field today after their captain Lara could not take field following a back problem after batting, said this is a matter of keeping the momentum going which had started in West Indies with the win against India and then in the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur when ''we beat the Australians there''.

Sarwan also praised the batting of Lara and Morton saying that they showed how to bat on this wicket and then ''gave us a total which our bowlers could defend''.

UNI GS MAZ AD RAI0035