Cricket: Ponting leads the fightback

Former captain’s gutsy half-century on day two leaves 1st Test against New Zealand evenly poised.

BRISBANE:

Ricky Ponting, searching for an elusive century to save his Test career, led an Australian fightback on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba.

Ponting, without a century to his credit in his previous 28 Test innings and under
pressure to keep his place, had a few close shaves to have Australia in reasonable shape at 154 for three in reply to New Zealand’s 295 at stumps.

The former captain unfurled some of his classic drives and pulls among his 11 boundaries to reach 67 unbeaten at the close of play, with captain Michael Clarke not out on 28.

“Ricky’s one of the legends of the game,” said Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. “We all have confidence in him and we’re going to back him up right to the end of the day. Hopefully he can go on and get a big one.”

Ponting and Clarke’s unbroken 63-run stand rescued the home side after they had lost David Warner (three), Phil Hughes (10) and Usman Khawaja (38) for 91 runs.

Meanwhile, Twenty20
specialist Warner’s maiden Test innings lasted just three balls before he was out in the over before lunch, failing to get out of the way from a superb lifting Tim Southee delivery and caught off the gloves by wicket-keeper Reece Young.

Earlier, New Zealand had added 119 runs for their last five wickets, continuing on from an overnight score of 176 for five with Dean Brownlie, dropped twice when he was on three, remaining unbeaten on 77.

“I don’t think anyone really gave us a chance of scoring almost 300 in those conditions and all the talk and all the history of the wicket indicates that’s a good score,” said Kiwi topscorer Daniel Vettori.

“But we do need to back it up with the ball and that first session will be the key and not let the game get away from us.”

Vettori was in sight of a milestone first Test century against Australia before he inexplicably set off for a quick run to mid-off only for Mike Hussey to run him out with a direct throw at the bowler’s end.

“It took a direct hit - if it wasn’t a direct hit I would have been in. He’s a very good fielder, I picked the wrong guy,” said Vettori who came to the crease with the Black Caps tottering at 96 for five just after lunch on Thursday.

Off-spinner Lyon wrapped up the New Zealand innings with the wickets of Doug Bracewell (0), Tim Southee (17) and Chris Martin (1) to finish with four for 69 off 21.5 overs.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2011.