Australia stagger post Ponting ton by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

South Africa in Australia 2008/09

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DateLine: 26th December 2008

 

Ricky Ponting put his hand up and accepted the role of guiding the fightback of Australia in the second test at MCG but at the end of the day it was once again South Africa who maintained a stronghold over the proceedings. While Australia celebrated Ponting's classy 101, they ended the day at an average score of 280/6 after an exciting day's play.

 

Like South Africa did at the WACA, where they earned a hard fought 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the visitors hit regularly and effectively whenever Australia seemed to be racing away. Dale Steyn chipped in with two important wickets after lunch to drop Australia to 3 for 143 and when the third session began without Ponting it was up to the batsmen to scrap towards stumps on a slow surface.

 

Hayden could not find the innings that would extend his career and was dismissed on 8 trying to drive a wide ball from Ntini, which sliced to JP Duminy at backward point. There was nothing in his innings that could be seen as a redeeming factor as he scratched and prodded along to make a difficult eight runs and that with Hayden's Australian skipper Ponting was in the middle.

 

In the over before lunch Steyn forced an edge from Ponting that went to second slip, where Neil McKenzie dropped it. Ponting was on 24 and scrapping bravely, but the break came at the ideal time for Australia's captain. Coming back after the interval Ponting upped his ante as the South African fielders were send on a leather hunt.

 

The innings briefly covered the damage of losing Simon Katich and Michael Hussey. South Africa were sensible to focus at the other end, even though Ponting offered occasional plays and misses. He square drove a four to bring up his half-century in 80 deliveries and followed next ball with a repeat off Ntini. It was his 37th Test century, his fourth at the MCG, and he took time to let the feelings sink in. There were ten boundaries and a six in his knock. With Ponting batting like dream, Katich departed when he tried to drive Steyn on the up and inside-edged on to middle stump and Hussey fell when he was caught in two minds, thinking about playing Steyn but pulling out too late and being caught behind by Mark Boucher.

 

Ponting looked ominous for South Africa in his time in the crease and looked to punish South Africa for McKenzie's fault when Harris intervened and plucked him out to the ball before tea. He was dismissed pushing at the left-arm spinner Paul Harris and popping a catch to Hashim Amla at short-leg, allowing South Africa to relax and enjoy their hot cup of tea during the break

 

After tea, Clarke and Symonds looked to take the Australian innings out of the troubled waters when Morkel who was expensive came back and had him caught at second slip where Kallis took a superb catch. Symonds in return from being axed has not till now looked in his imposing self. Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin played responsibly and looked like the pair would take Australia to a better looking scorecard at the end of the day. But their 54-run stand for the sixth wicket ended after Makhaya Ntini allured Haddin nick to first slip and thus Australia ended their day at 280/6 far from their imposing scoreline during their halycon days of late 1990's and early 2000's.