Ponting's century puts Australia in control: Kaneria fined for using obscene language
SYDNEY, Jan 3: Ricky Ponting scored his first century as Test captain to put Australia in control of the final Test against Pakistan on Monday.
Ponting ended his 12-month drought with a majestic 155 not out to steer Australia past Pakistan's modest first innings total of 304 and reach 340 for four at the end of the second day.
The skipper shared a 174-run partnership with Damien Martyn, who added a brisk 67 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Adam Gilchrist was on 17. Pakistan, already 2-0 down and facing the possibility of a series whitewash, dismissed the Australian openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden early, but had little else to celebrate.
The tourists had resumed their first innings on 292-9 and added 12 more runs before Kamran Akmal was neatly caught by Shane Warne at first slip off Glenn McGrath for 47, giving the lanky paceman his fourth wicket of the match.
Pakistan made some early inroads when Naved-ul-Hasan bowled Justin Langer for 13 with a vicious inswinger then leg spinner Danish Kaneria shattered Matthew Hayden's stumps on 26. However, Ponting and Martyn immediately put Australia back in control, batting through the entire middle session with Ponting reaching his hundred shortly before tea.
Ponting's form with the bat had slipped since he took over the test captaincy from Steve Waugh a year ago and he was becoming increasingly anxious to add to his tally of 20 test centuries.
The 30-year-old had a career average of nearly 56 when Waugh departed but had averaged less than 42 in his nine tests as skipper. He came close with 92 against Sri Lanka in March and was agonisingly short with his 98 against Pakistan in Perth last month, but made no mistake getting to 100 this time.
"Not scoring one for the whole calendar year last year was a bit disappointing but I didn't really feel any pressure to get my first one as skipper," Ponting said. "Once I got past about 30 I felt really settled. I've been saying all along I was batting well and a big score wasn't far away."
Ponting hardly played a false stroke and he brought up the milestone in the most emphatic fashion in a little over three hours, driving Naved to the boundary after 143 balls, before removing his helmet and saluting the crowd.
His relief was obvious and he continued to pile on the runs, ending the day with 23 boundaries and eyeing a possible double-century. Martyn, who was bidding to become the first Australian since Don Bradman in 1948 to score hundreds in three consecutive Test innings, also delighted in smashing the pedestrian Pakistan attack to all parts of the ground.
He passed his 50 off 80 balls but departed shortly after tea when he danced down the pitch to Kaneria and was stumped by Akmal. The wily wrist-spinner also had new batting sensation Michael Clarke stumped for 35 after being driven over his head but landed in trouble when he swore at the departing Australian.
He was charged under the International Cricket Council's code for conduct for "using language that is obscene, offensive or of a generally insulting nature to another player." He was issued with a severe reprimand by match referee Ranjan Madugalle and fined his match fee of about US$9,000.
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan first innings (292 for 9 overnight)
Salman Butt c Gilchrist b McGrath 108
Yasir Hameed c Clarke b Warne 58
Younis Khan c McGrath b MacGill 46
Yousuf Youhana c Warne b MacGill 8
Asim Kamal c Gillespie b MacGill 10
Shahid Afridi c McGrath b MacGill 12
Kamran Akmal c Warne b McGrath 47
Rana Naved-ul-Hassan lbw b McGrath 0
Shoaib Akhtar b McGrath 0
Danish Kaneria c Gilchrist b MacGill 3
Mohammad Asif not out 0
Extras (b6, lb2, w1, nb3) 12
Total (all out) 304
Overs: 86.4
Fall of wickets: 1-102, 2-193, 3-209, 4-241, 5-241, 6-261,
7-261, 8-261, 9-280, 10-304
