| GEO Sports | | Ponting becomes 3rd batsman to pass 12,000 ODI runs | Updated at: 0637 PST, Saturday, October 03, 2009
 CENTURION: Captain Ricky Ponting became the third batsman to reach 12,000 one-day international (ODI) runs as he guided Australia to a nine-wicket win over England in Friday's Champions Trophy semi-final.
Ponting hit 111 not out and Shane Watson thumped an unbeaten 136, the pair sharing an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 252 to set Australia up for a final meeting with New Zealand or Pakistan on Monday.
"(Passing 12,000) is a nice little achievement I guess but I'll look at it when I have finished playing," Ponting said at the post-match presentation.
"(Squad member) Dave Hussey came out (to the middle) tonight and said, 'I wanted to tell you that you were getting close to 12,000 runs'. I had no idea, it's never been anything that motivates me, personal stats.
"It is about doing a job when it matters for the team so I'm happy I have been able to do that today," added Ponting.
The 34-year-old, who joins India's Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka in achieving the milestone, led from the front as Australia reached their target of 258 with 8.1 overs to spare. |  |
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