Australia keen to clip New Zealand wings in slog overs

Australia captain Ricky Ponting says his team will need to restrict New Zealand's big-hitting batsmen in the slog overs of Wednesday's Champions Trophy semi-final. The Kiwis reached the last four after amassing 99 runs in the last 10 overs of their 51-run win over Pakistan last week.
"We have to look at Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori, who are dangerous hitters at the end," Ponting told reporters on Tuesday. "We came unstuck in the last Chappell-Hadlee series game we played in New Zealand in December after they got a lot of runs from the last 10 overs. We need to come up with the right strategy, right field placements to restrict those guys."
The world champions are determined to win the one major title to elude them after stumbling in the semi-finals of the last two editions. "The game tomorrow is as much a final as anything else," said Ponting. "It is a great challenge. "We had our backs to the wall over the last few games but did very well in them."
Australia recovered from a 10-run defeat by holders West Indies to beat England and India to qualify for the semi-finals. Ponting said the recent history of meetings with New Zealand would prove an advantage to his side.
"Certainly over the last few years we've got ahead as far as results go, we've won 15 of our last 17 games," he said. But Australia will be wary of Shane Bond if the New Zealand fast bowler overcomes a hamstring twinge to play.
Bond has an eye-catching one-day record against the world champions. In six matches he has claimed 22 wickets at an average of 10.45 and dismissed Ponting each time.
New Zealand's win-loss record against Australia when Bond is in the side is 3-3.
"Shane's got an unbelievable strike-rate in one-day cricket and a very good record against Australia," said Ponting, who will also keep a close eye on Kyle Mills.
The 27-year-old Kiwi seamer has taken six wickets for 80 runs in three games in the competition. "Mills has had a good time in the Champions Trophy and the conditions here suit his style of bowling," said Ponting. "We've spoken about those two to get our plans intact."