Chasing big World Cup totals on the small grounds of the Caribbean is more difficult than defending them because you can only pursue at one pace -- absolutely flat out.
That seems to be Ricky Ponting's theory after Australia's 83-run win over South Africa on Saturday.
After the defending champions were sent in to bat at Warner Park, Australia scored 377-6 for the third-highest World Cup total. But that didn't look enough when A.B. de Villiers and Graeme Smith took the score to 160-0 in the 21st over. De Villiers' run out and the cramps that forced Smith to retire hurt slowed them down, before top-ranked South Africa lost 9-74 from 220-1 in the 32nd over.
Ponting thinks that any scoring lulls at the top of the order when in pursuit increases the likelihood of wickets falling and puts more pressure on batsmen lower down who aren't as equipped to handle it.
"I knew we'd post a big total," Ponting said. "When we did, they only had one option: that is to come out and play that way. But when you do play that way you're risk-taking as well."
"Our 377 was such a huge score," he said. "It's always hard work chasing big totals like that."
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