Ricky Ponting's fifth Test double-century and Michael Clarke's highest Test score have left Pakistan facing a mountainous task to avoid defeat over the next three days in Hobart. Both men departed during the second session and a lower-order flurry got Australia to 8 for 519 before Ponting declared on the stroke of tea, when Mitchell Johnson skied a catch off Danish Kaneria.
The second day was just as successful for Australia as the first, although Marcus North's scratchy 21 was a concern and will not ease the questions over his place in the side ahead of March's tour of New Zealand. He was caught behind off Mohammad Asif after combining with Brad Haddin, who made a quick 41 from 34 balls, for a 55-run stand.
It paled in comparison to the 352-run partnership between Ponting and Clarke, which lasted 437 minutes and 626 balls, and was Australia's sixth-highest for any wicket in Test history. The stand ended when Clarke tried to pad up to Kaneria coming around the wicket but saw it take his off stump on 166.
Ponting's innings of 209 came to a close when he attacked in spite of Pakistan's defensive wide-outside-off line and skied a catch to cover off Mohammad Aamer. The captain Mohammad Yousuf took the chance, showing Aamer how it should be done after he put Ponting down at deep square-leg before he had scored on the first day.
Fans stood all around the ground to cheer off their local Tasmanian hero Ponting, who made his third-highest Test score and his first double-ton since January 2005, the first Test double-century by any player at Bellerive Oval, and the highest Test score by an Australian since Justin Langer's 215 in Adelaide against New Zealand five years ago. He picked up an even hundred runs in boundaries - 25 fours - in a near nine-hour stay at the crease.
Ponting was given another life today on 167 when he drove Kaneria and the ball flew through the hands of Imran Farhat at cover. But by that stage Australia were going for their shots and in truth, Clarke and Ponting were rarely troubled by a defensive Pakistan group that seemed simply to be waiting for a declaration.
Until right on tea, that decision didn't come from Ponting, who had declared early in Melbourne but here seemed intent on grinding Pakistan into the Bellerive turf. There are some showers forecast over the next three days, so Ponting must have supreme confidence in his attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment