SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting guided Australia to an unlikely eight-wicket win over South Africa in the third Test on Friday, becoming the first cricketer to score centuries in both innings of his 100th Test.

Graeme Smith, pushing for a series-levelling win, declared South Africa's second innings at 194 for six an hour before lunch on Friday, setting Australia 287 to win and giving his attack 76 overs to bowl the host out.

It backfired.

Record broken

Ponting was unbeaten on 143 — his 28th Test hundred — when Australia broke the 108-year-old record for the highest fourth innings winning total at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He stroked a boundary for the winning runs, boosting the total to 288 for two, which surpassed the 276 for four Australia achieved to beat England here in 1898.

Ponting was voted player of the match and of the series. He scored 515 runs in three Tests at an average of 103.

South Africa salvaged a draw in the series-opener in Perth before losing at Melbourne last week by 184 runs, although both captains agreed the outcome could have been different.

South Africa "has really tested us right through this series. It's been hard fought and a tough tussle in every test," said Ponting. "It's been very hard fought and we've come through with the goods."

Defending Smith

Ponting defended Smith's decision but said the South African had been left with "a little bit of egg on his face". "He was just trying to stand up for his team and show that they weren't scared or had no fear of playing Australia," Ponting said.

The South Africans had made all the running in Sydney until the final morning. Smith won the toss, decided to bat and declared at 451 for nine in the first innings, then his bowlers dismissed Australia for 359 in reply.

He said he'd risk defeat to chase a win and kept his word when he declared with Jacques Kallis unbeaten on 50 after South Africa had added 100 to its overnight 94 for three in 20 overs.

Australia cautiously blocked out the new ball and then went on the attack. After Justin Langer was bowled for 20, Ponting joined Matthew Hayden (90) and shared a 182-run second-wicket partnership that lifted Australia from 30 for one to 212 for two.

"We've had our noses in front the whole game and because of weather we had to take a very big risk," Smith said.

Smith said he had no choice but to declare when he did after rain restricted play to only 21.3 overs on the penultimate day.

Career tally

Ponting increased his career tally to 8,253 runs and moved to 10th in the list of all-time leading scorers, surpassing former England captain David Gower's 8,231 from 117 Tests.

Ponting, who had not scored centuries in each innings of a Test in a decade until his 149 and 104 against the West Indies in Brisbane last November, has now achieved the feat twice in two months.

He scored 120 to anchor Australia's first innings. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail