Australia captain Ricky Ponting made Pakistan pay dearly for their mistakes in the field as he brought up only his second Test century on his home ground to guide his team out of early trouble on opening day of third cricket Test at Bellerive Oval. After struggling on 80 for three at lunch, the hosts finally got going and ended the day on an imposing 302 for three.
Ponting took full advantage of being dropped on zero by ending the day unbeaten on 137, while vice-captain Michael Clarke also scored an unbeaten century as pair combined for a record fourth-wicket stand for Australia against Pakistan of 231. Pakistan were still coming to terms with their disappointing defeat in second Test in Sydney, where they were beaten by 36 runs despite holding a lead of over 200 runs at the end of first innings.
But things looked promising for tourists in opening session when, having lost the toss, they claimed wickets of Simon Katich, Shane Watson and Mike Hussey. Katich was first to walk, departing in seventh over for 11 after being adjudged lbw on referral off Mohammad Asif. His dismissal marked arrival of Ponting at the crease.
Skipper should have been out without scoring when he was also tempted into a hook shot by Asif and skied ball straight to young paceman Mohammad Aamer at fine leg. Aamer did not have to move, but crucially elected to take catch at waist level rather than at head height and as a result lost sight of ball, resulting in him having two bites of cherry as he eventually spilled a catch he would have been expected to take.
His miss took number of dropped catches by Pakistan in this series to an extraordinary 14. Visitors made some amends with dismissal of Watson for 29 when he cut Umar Gul straight to Imran Farhat at gully, and Australia were under even more pressure when Aamer had Hussey caught behind by Test debutant Sarfraz Ahmed for six. But Ponting then dispelled all criticism about his form as he took centre stage with Clarke.
He came into this Test having scored just 216 runs at 27 in five Tests this summer. In fact since January last year 35-year-old has been Australia's worst-performing batsman averaging just 36, which resulted in his career average falling below 55 for first time in five years.
At his beloved Bellerive, Ponting had scored just 262 runs in eight innings - with 157 of those coming in one innings against New Zealand in 2001 - with this innings just his third score above 50 in six Tests and nine innings on his home ground.
Ponting did it hard way in taking 165 minutes and 111 balls to reach his half-century after also surviving being hit on the helmet by Gul, when again attempting to hook just before lunch, as well as a referred lbw decision off spinner Danish Kaneria when on 35. His 39th Test century arrived much quicker from 159 balls with 13 fours.
As well as shoddy fielding, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf did not help his side by refusing to bowl exciting young left-armer Aamer throughout middle session when Ponting and Clarke took initiative away from visitors. That allowed Clarke to rack up his 13th Test century in 188 balls to end the day on 111, as Australia bid for a record equalling 12th successive Test victory against Pakistan.
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SCOREBOARD
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Australia first innings
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SR Watson c Farhat b Gul 29
SM Katich lbw b Asif 11
RT Ponting not out 137
MEK Hussey c Sarfraz b Aamer 6
MJ Clarke not out 111
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Extras: lb 1, w 4, nb 3) 8
Total: (3 wickets; 90 overs) 302
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(3.35 runs per over)
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-52, 3-71
Bowling: Mohammad Asif 25-6-68-1; Mohammad Aamer 18-4-50-1; Umar Gul 16-2-68-1; Danish Kaneria 26-2-93-0; Shoaib Malik 5-0-22-0
Umpires: EAR de Silva (Sri Lanka) and RE Koertzen (South Africa)
TV umpire: BR Doctrove (West Indies)
Match referee: RS Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
Reserve umpire: RJ Tucker.
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