We must learn from Pakistan defeat, warns Ponting

FE Team | Published: March 21, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

COLOMBO, Mar 20 (AFP): Ricky Ponting warned Australia Sunday that the defending champions must learn the harsh lessons of their shattering defeat to Pakistan if they want to stay in the World Cup. Australia lost by four wickets to Shahid Afridi's men, a defeat which ended their 34-match unbeaten streak in the tournament stretching back to the 1999 edition. It could also mean they face a titanic struggle against India in the quarter-finals. Australia went down by four wickets in a hard-fought Group A clash, bowled out for just 176 against a spirited Pakistan bowling attack which was led by Umar Gul who took 3-30. Paceman Brett Lee raised hopes of an Australian victory with four wickets but Pakistan pulled off the win, and took top spot in Group A, with nine overs to spare. Umar Akmal, with an unbeaten 44 and a gritty 46 from Asad Shafiq, laid the foundations for a Pakistan win. "We have to learn from the defeat and we have to learn quickly," said Ponting, whose team finished third in Group A behind Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They seem likely to face title favourites India at Ahmedabad Thursday. "If we play India in Ahmedabad, then you can guarantee the same situations are going to pop up again, and we'll have to handle them a whole lot better than we did against Pakistan," said Ponting. The Australian captain, whose team are chasing a fourth successive world title, believes the loss of the 34-match unbeaten record will not hurt his team. "I know for a fact the guys haven't been thinking about the streak at all, because it hasn't been mentioned around our group," he said. "I think the fact that we've played a good Pakistan team and we've come up short will get all the guys thinking just exactly what they need to be thinking about and the way they need to play to win World Cup games."