Ricky Ponting did the bashing and Michael Kasprowicz the crashing as Australia welcomed Twenty20 cricket into the international arena with a 44-run thumping of New Zealand.

Ponting blitzed a 55-ball unbeaten 98 to propel the world champions to an imposing 5-214 at Eden Park before Kasprowicz took 4-29 to dismantle the Black Caps for 170.

The victory completes a 128-year clean sweep by Australia which also took out the first ever Test match in 1877 and inaugural one-day international in 1970.

Ponting deserved to become the first-ever centurion in the 'bash and crash' game after bludgeoning the penultimate over of the innings for 30 runs.

The skipper stood his ground to hit Daryl Tuffey for four sixes, a boundary and a two to take his score to 93.

But he only faced three deliveries in the final over off Andre Adams to fall short by two.

In all Ponting, who dug his side out of trouble at 4-53 with the help of Simon Katich (30 off 25) and Mike Hussey (31 not out off 15), belted eight fours and five sixes.

He rated the historic occasion a success but was unsure whether the concept would catch on in the international arena once the novelty value rubs off.

"It's still hard to know," he said.

"There's still a range of issues that have to be worked through obviously with how we're going to fit it into an international program.

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