Australia captain Ricky Ponting displayed dazzling footwork against Scotland on Wednesday to strike a fourth World Cup century and lead the world champions to a 203-run win in their opening Group A match.

Ponting lofted five sixes in his 113 from 93 balls, breaking Sourav Ganguly's previous World Cup record of 23. He also became the sixth person to score 1,000 World Cup runs with his opening boundary, a sweetly timed on-drive. Glenn McGrath, who needed 11 wickets before the match to overtake Wasim Akram's World Cup record tally off 55, then took three for 14 on a pitch freshened by rain as Scotland succumbed for 131 for nine in reply to Australia's 334 for six. Opening bowler John Blain did not bat after leaving the field during the Australia innings.

Scotland captain Craig Wright won the toss and decided to field on a steamy, overcast day.