Ponting matches Bradman feat

24 March 2006

Ricky Ponting hammered a century to equal Sir Donald Bradman's Test hundred record on Friday © Getty Images

Australia captain Ricky Ponting equalled Sir Donald Bradman’s record of 29 Test centuries before South Africa hit back on the first day of the second Test at Durban.

Ponting cracked his sixth century against the Proteas and fifth in the last four Tests against them to get Australia off to a fine start at Kingsmead.

But South Africa claimed two wickets with the new ball late in the day to leave the match evenly poised with Australia 228 for five at stumps. Mike Hussey (10) and Andrew Symonds (four) were the not out batsmen.

Ponting batted superbly for his 103, which came off 224 balls, but he was given two lifelines by the home team as he was dropped on five and 36.

First wicket-keeper Mark Boucher missed a sharp chance as Ponting bottom edged an attempted pull behind the wicket.

Then in the 36th over, Andre Nel got Ponting to edge a ball that flew between Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith in the slips.

He went to his century with a square cut off Nicky Boje but the very next ball he hit straight to Herschelle Gibbs at short mid off.

South Africa took the new ball and immediately it paid dividends. Makhaya Ntini, who earlier removed Matthew Hayden with the second ball of his first over, repeated the trick early in a fresh spell.

Ntini found the edge of Damien Martyn’s bat and Kallis took the catch at second slip. Martyn made 57 off 134 balls with 10 boundaries.

Brett Lee came in as a nightwatchman but lasted just seven balls before umpire Steve Bucknor contentiously gave him caught behind off Ntini.

Earlier, the Proteas had an almost immediate breakthrough after losing the toss as they dismissed Hayden for a duck in the second over.

Australia had not even troubled the scorers when Hayden tried to drive Ntini’s outswinger but ended up edging to AB de Villiers at third slip.

Ponting and Justin Langer put on 97 before the latter departed for 35 after edging a perfect Kallis out-swinger to Boucher.