Melbourne: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting slammed a scintillating century as the hosts managed to score 280 runs for the loss of six wickets on the first day of the second Test against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Friday.
Matthew Hayden's poor run continued as the big-hitting southpaw made just eight runs before he became the first victim of Makhaya Ntini.
As the hosts were looking in control, Dale Steyn struck to send back Katich. He followed it up with the wicket of Michael Hussey for a duck. And suddenly Aussie slipped from 128-1 to 143-3.
However, the Australian captain helped the hosts recover after the fall of wickets in quick succession.
Ponting led from the front with a magnificent hundred that included 10 boundaries and one six. He was caught by Amla off Harris just before tea as the hosts were reduce d to 184 for four.
Australia lost two more wickets for 96 runs in the final session. All-rounder Symonds who was cleared a couple of days back to play in the match after injury, chipped in with 27. Haddin was the other batsman dismissed for 40.
Teams
Australia: Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin (W), Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle.
South Africa: Neil McKenzie, Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Dale Steyn, Mark Boucher (wk), Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris.
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