NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Langer and Ponting pound Pakistan into submission

Scores: Australia 451; Pakistan 155 & 40/2 (15.0 overs)

Ricky Ponting missed a double ton by just three runs on a day of Australian dominance, as the hosts took a 296-run lead over Pakistan on the first innings.

To add injury to injury, Australia then struck twice in the closing moments of play on day two, to take out both Pakistan openers and end the day with the prospect of an innings defeat staring Pakistan in the face.

Ponting finally ran into form after three successive ducks, while Justin Langer, Man of the Match in the famous Australian win in the second Test, continued his own rich vein of form to partner Ponting in a mammoth 327-run fifth wicket partnership, batting the hosts out of jail after Australia, at one point, were reeling on 54 for four.

Pakistan's only chance of getting into the game was to take early wickets -- but strangely, Wasim Akram began the day with a defensive field, employing just two slips and leaving lots of gaps in the field for the overnight not outs to exploit. To add to Pakistan's problems, the pace bowlers dished out too much off the short pitched stuff, allowing Langer and Ponting, both strong pullers of the ball, the luxury of easy runs early on.

Ponting's off driving, especially off Wasim Akram, was the highlight of the morning as the pair brought up the 150 of the partnership off 230 balls, in just 167 minutes. Ponting got to his fifth Test century soon after, getting there in 146 balls, with 15 boundaries.

Langer was the more subdued of the two, and inched his way to his own century off 179 balls, then retreated further into his shell while Ponting took complete charge. Barring one Akthar over of pure pace that had Ponting groping, the Pakistan bowlers never looked like posing any problems to either batsman. With Akram's muscle injury taking him out of the proceedings, it appeared as though the visiting side had lost its stomach for a fight.

Records tumbled as the Australian pair kept the board moving at a brisk rate, the 327 runs they added being the third highest fifth wicket partnership for Australia. Langer -- 144 off 286 balls -- finally departed after recording his second successive Test century, trying to hook a short ball from Shoaib Akhtar, but managing only to balloon itt for Moin to complete the catch.

That brought Adam Gilchrist to the crease, for an entertaining cameo of 28 runs before Mohammad Akram went round the wickt to bowl him with a delivery that moved in late to go through the batsman's defence and take out off stump.

Ponting, who looked a cert to join the 200-club, fell three short when he drove Azhar Mahmood on the up, the ball flaring off the toe of the bat for Ijaz Ahmed to hold at backward point. The Australian innings folded in short order from that point on, with Saqlain having Warne caught by keeper Moin attempting the sweep, then catching Fleming plumb in front with the straighter one before Mohammad Akram completed his five-wicket haul by getting McGrath to edge to slip. The Aussies had taken 110.5 overs to pile on 451 -- a cracking rate for Tests.

With 15 overs to negotiate, Pakistan openers Saeed Anwar and Wajahat Wasti got off to a nervous start against Fleming and McGrath operating with four slips and two gullies. Six behind the bat, in addition to the keeper, meant lots of gaps in front of the wicket -- but neither batsman looked to have the confidence to exploit that situation. Anwar was the first to go, chasing a harmless delivery wide of off stump into the hands of Gilchrist.

Wasti followed soon after, attempting to hook a short ball from McGrath only for Fleming to hold at deep backward square. Night watchman Saqlain and number three Ijaz Ahmad saw out the rest of the day, to take Pakistan through to stumps on 40/2, still 256 runs behind with three days of play remaining.

At close, it was evident that this Test could only end one way -- with an Australian win. The only point of interest remains in seeing whether the Aussies can make that an innings win, or whether Pakistan will have the resilience to mount a fightback with the bat, and force the home side to bat again.

Scoreboard