Ponting tips Lee to overcome Gayle mauling

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London: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has backed fast bowler Brett Lee to recover from the battering by Chris Gayle and hit form in the ongoing World Twenty20.

Lee was made to look like a club side bowler by West Indies captain Gayle during his blistering knock of 88 off 50 balls that handed his team a crushing seven-wicket victory against Australia on Saturday.

Lee, who was playing his second international match since undergoing ankle surgery last year, was hit for 56 runs from four overs. He had his revenge when he claimed Gayle's wicket, but not before the hard-hitting left-hander took West Indies to safety.

"He (Lee) obviously got taken down a little bit but I don't think it mattered who was bowling to Chris in the sort of mood he was in. I'm happy with the way he's coming along," Ponting said.

Ponting was also happy with the progress of all-rounder Shane Watson, who is returning from a back injury. "He got through pretty well I thought," Ponting said.

"He'll just get better and better the more overs he gets under his belt. The more he bowls to better players as well he'll benefit from that a lot. He gives us great flexibility."