MELBOURNE: World XI captain Ricky Ponting stroked a superb 115 to lead his side to a comprehensive 112-run win over Asia in yesterday's charity match for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed announced after the game that $11 million had been raised on the day for the tsunami appeal.
Man-of-the-match Ponting was in sparkling touch, hitting eight fours and three sixes in a game played before a sell-out crowd of 70,101 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"All the players owed it to the organisers and the people who were watching it all around the world to make sure it was a really competitive, good game of cricket," Ponting said.
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns smashed 69 from 47 balls and West Indies captain Brian Lara scored an effortless 52 for the World XI. Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took three wickets for 59 for Asia.
In reply to the World XI's 344 for eight, Asia scored 232 all out in 39.5 overs.
India batsman Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 75 for Asia and his compatriot Virender Sehwag hit an aggressive 45 from 39 balls at the top of the order, including five fours and a six.
Spinners Daniel Vettori of New Zealand (3-58) and Australia's Shane Warne (2-27) did the most damage for the World XI.
Watched by an estimated global television audience of one billion, the match was the first of a two-game series.
Australia's World Cup-winning captain Ponting and Test cricket's world record holder Lara were two of the big name players the crowd came to see and the pair batted beautifully, adding 122 for the third wicket.
India paceman Zaheer Khan had struck two early blows for Asia, removing openers Chris Gayle (1) and Adam Gilchrist (24) caught behind by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
Lara, who hit three fours, holed out to long off off the bowling of spinner Anil Kumble at 172 for three in the 31st over.
Ponting and the hard-hitting Cairns shared a 91-run stand from 55 balls.