Didn't have a close game, had to challenge ourselves - Ponting

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 29 (UNI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the ease with which his team achieved an unprecedented hat-trick of World Cup titles opened up a huge gap between his champion team and the rest of the cricketing teams.

''We've played some unbelievable cricket and we didn't have a close game at all,'' said Ponting who led his side to the second successive World Cup title.

The Aussie skipper said that lack of tough competition forced his teamamtes to challenge themselves and come with with the goods.

''Full credit to the guys for the way they've played,'' Ponting said, adding, ''We've never been satisfied with our performance and levels.

''Individually we kept challenging ourselves to improve and the results just kept getting better and better.'' ''I am proud of what we have achieved. All the guys have done it for eight weeks and everything came together for us in the final,'' Ponting said after the side's 53-run win over Sri Lanka in the final here on Saturday.

''We never had a close game. That's full credit to the way the guys have played.

''Results have kept getting better and better. It is a day I'll never forget,'' Ponting said.

''Winning it for a third straight time is an amazing feeling.

Playing with this group of players is very special,'' he said.

UNI