Ponting overcomes injury with blazing century

Ricky Ponting, made light of an injury and the blazing heat, to score his second century of the series to guide Australia into a commanding position on the opening day of the third Test against Pakistan here Saturday.

Struck on the chin when he ducked into a Mohammad Sami delivery the elegant right-hander and Aussies one-day skipper defied the scorching sun to complete a flawless century with his third six and ended the day unbeaten on 142 as Australia took toll of a pedestrian attack to reach 298 for three when play was halted with 4.3 overs still to be bowled.

Ponting, who slammed 141 in the first Test at Colombo, had so far hammered 14 fours and three sixes. Skipper Steve Waugh needing a big score to silence his detractors is 33 in the unbroken fourth-wicket stand which has so far realized 65.

Pakistan, to the utter surprise of everyone, went into the match with only four specialist bowlers - two of them Sami and Danish Kaneria still to make their mark at the Test level - against one of the best batting sides of the world.

There were three changes in the Pakistan team. Sami came in for Shoaib Akhtar, batsman Hasan Raza replaced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat got the nod over a disappointing Imran Nazir for the opener's slot.

Australia stuck to the winning combination of the second Test when Steve Waugh went out and won a good toss in batting-friendly conditions. And although Waqar Younis removed opener Justin Langer off the day's fifth ball it was hard labour for his bowlers as Ponting first with Matthew Hayden and later with his captain piled on the agony on the "home side".

With such a limited bowling resources Ponting and Hayden's second-wicket alliance produced 184 runs before the latter, in sight of his second successive century, became Saqlain's first victim, caught by Faisal Iqbal at the second attempt at backward short leg.

Hayden, the big left-hander from Queensland, slammed 11 fours and two sixes in his knock off 89, scored off 163 balls.

Pakistan's last success of the day came when Mark Waugh, whose place in the side is also in grave danger, gave the hard-working but never threatening Saqlain his second wicket well caught by Rashid Latif for 23.

Mark Waugh played a couple of excellent strokes despite some anxious moments.

On the evidence of first day's proceeding the remainder of this Test does not augur well for Pakistan and unless there is a dramatic collapse which seems unlikely the Aussies are poised to post a massive first innings score making it tough for Waqar's boys to prevent the 'visitors' from completing second successive 3-0 whitewash having already won the first two Tests.