Ponting century the standout on gritty opening day

On a tight and tough opening day of Test cricket at Durban, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting knuckled down to score a well timed 103, to help Australia to a stumps total of 5/228.

Ponting equalled the great Sir Donald Bradman’s mark of 29 centuries in a knock which elapsed 320 minutes, the usually free flowing Tasmanian forced to quell his attacking instincts on a day in which runs were hard to come by.

The captain received several costly reprieves from his opposition, with Proteas wicketkeeper Mark Boucher grassing a chance with Ponting on a mere five runs.

Then, on 36, a thick edge sailed between first and second slip, allowing Ponting another let off, riding his luck in a determined innings before his dig was cut short by left arm tweaker Nicky Boje, caught by Herschelle Gibbs for a brave century which was the main staple in his side’s innings.

Graceful West Australian middle order batsman Damien Martyn, under siege to retain/regain his place in both forms of the game, justified his reinstatement to the national team with a paced 57, combining with Ponting to add 101 runs in 40 overs before his skipper fell.

Martyn will hope the half century will prove another turning point in his career, the stylish batsman a scapegoat of the unsuccessful Ashes tour last winter.

It was South Africa who struck the first blow, dismissing the ever dangerous Matthew Hayden for a duck in only the second over of the match, AB de Villiers latching onto a difficult catch, trapping the Australians at 1/0.

This brought Ponting to the crease, who was fortunate to side with Justin Langer – one of the best batsmen worldwide when there is grafting to be done on a cricket pitch.

The two veterans stood firm for 38 overs, and were looking as if they had weathered the storm when Langer was finally dismissed off Kallis for a typically grinding knock of 35 off 125 deliveries.

Ponting and Martyn then set about building a platform for the bigger Australian strikers to score from, taking 40 overs to tally 101 runs before Ponting fell for 103 – one of the more ‘different’ knocks seen from one of the most consummate batsmen in the caper.

Ponting’s dismissal caused something of a minor collapse, with Martyn falling not long after in an attempt to boost a run rate which was far below the four runs an over we have become accustomed to seeing on an Australian scorecard.

13 balls later Proteas paceman Makhaya Ntini struck for a third time, sending nightwatchman Brett Lee packing for a duck, Australia in the intriguing position of 5/219, without long remaining before stumps.

The Australians overnight score is one which has not been seen for some time, with the rate of 2.59 runs per over well down on previous Aussie tally’s.

The pick of the home side’s bowlers was undoubtedly Ntini, who troubled all batsmen, forcing them to fight for their runs, snaring a well deserved 3/50 off his 16 overs.

All-rounder Shaun Pollock slipped back into his opening bowler slot without fuss, leaking a miserly 33 runs off his 30 overs.

Fellow all-rounder Jacques Kallis returned to something like his best form, taking 1/33 off his 15 over stint at the crease.

With still another four day’s play remaining, the Australians will look to settle early on day two before going on to post a large score, and with the hard-hitting pair of Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds at the crease and the brutal Adam Gilchrist and, to a lesser extent, Shane Warne to come, anything is possible.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!