Win shows you can never write us off - Ponting

Ricky Ponting praised Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel for another crucial batting partnership to pull their team back from the edge of the precipice yet again against New Zealand.

The two shared an unbroken stand of 73 to set up a last-over win against England, and today they both hit half-centuries as Australia, after being reduced to 84 for seven, won by 96 runs.

"We have got a lot of very good players in a very good team and we back ourselves to win from any situation," said Ponting. "We did that again today. Both Andy Bichel and Michael Bevan were outstanding and we followed that up with some pretty impressive bowling."

Bichel outscored last Sunday's unbeaten 34 against England, combining again with Bevan to steer Australia out of trouble.

"With so many overs to go I just tried to get myself in and then bat as long as we could," he said. "We didn't want to take too many risks until the last few overs and initially thought about 150 or 170, so to get 200 was pretty good."

Meanwhile New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming admitted that finishing remains a primary problem for his attack.

"We did pretty well first up but lacked firepower towards the end," he admitted. "They managed to grab the initiative from us and we ran out of ammunition.

"Our batting wasn't disciplined enough, we needed a substantial partnership early on but we didn't get it," added Fleming, who top-scored with 48. "Against Australia you have to take it to the 100th over, we failed to do that and paid the price."

Shane Bond's man-of-the-match return of six for 23 confirmed his status as Australia's prime tormentor, surpassing his previous one-day international best of five for 25 against them in the VB Series at Adelaide last year.

"The plans I had for each batsman were carried out in the VB Series last year and they went pretty well," said Bond. "As a bowling group you have to prepare well to face these guys because otherwise they hit you."

Of Bond, Fleming added: "I was delighted for him, on a losing day you have to keep things in perspective and it was a fine spell. You shouldn't push it aside because we lost, it was the best seam bowling spell by a New Zealander and I think it should be celebrated."