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Ponting ton revives Aussie hopes Hoggard wickets give England edge
(about 3 hours later)
Ricky Ponting hit his 10th century in 13 games to revive Australian hopes of matching England on day three of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. Matthew Hoggard took four wickets on day three of the second Ashes Test to keep England hopes high despite Ricky Ponting's record ton for Australia.
Ponting, dropped on 35, and Mike Hussey (49no) shared an unbroken stand of 120 as Australia reached tea on 185-3, needing 352 to avoid the follow-on. England made a perfect start as Hoggard dismissed Matthew Hayden for 14 and Damien Martyn for 11.
England made a perfect start as Matthew Hoggard dismissed Matthew Hayden for 14 and Damien Martyn for 11. And the seamer returned with the second new ball to dismiss Ponting (142) and Hussey (92) after a stand of 192.
On 78-3, Ashley Giles failed to hold on to a Ponting pull at deep square leg. Australia closed the day on 312-5, trailing by 239, with Michael Clarke (30) and Adam Gilchrist (13) unbeaten.
A pitch that looked completely bereft of life when Australia were bowling responded to the extra effort shown by England, who were unrecognisable from their first Test display. Their first target remains the mark of 352 needed to avoid the follow-on, a point which would make the draw favourite.
Captain Andrew Flintoff employed some innovative field-placing in putting a fan of men out to stop the drive, tempting Australia into dangerous cross-bat shots. Ponting's century was his 10th in 13 games, his second of the series so far and the 33rd of his 107-Test career, moving him clear of Steve Waugh as Australia's top centurion.
Steve Harmison, who conceded 177 runs for a single wicket in the defeat in Brisbane, appeared to be back in form, bristling with pace and, crucially, accuracy. He and Hussey came together at 65-3, their stand spanning the next 60 overs, causing England to despair until Hoggard had Ponting caught behind with the second new ball.
His afternoon spell of 0-14 off six overs included an audacious hooked six from Hussey, who was otherwise watchful in defence. Ponting should have gone on 35 when he pulled Hoggard to deep square leg, only for Giles to shell a chance over his head.
James Anderson began well and could have dismissed Ponting on three occasions early, with an edge in front of slip, a delivery through the gate and a close lbw appeal. His decision to take a quick single to square leg on 46 could have backfired but Paul Collingwood's throw just missed the stumps.
Ponting showed he had found his feet just before lunch, though, as he took two authoritative boundaries off the youngster to move to 50 from 106 balls. Ponting survived a drop on 35 to bring up an Aussie record 33rd ton
Spinner Ashley Giles got his first chance of the innings in mid-afternoon, Ponting demonstrating his determination to take on the spinner with a lofted drive over cover. Either side of that chance, Ponting found his feet with two boundaries off Anderson to bring up his fifty just before lunch, and settled in for a long afternoon.
Giles demonstrated more loop than he has for much of his career. His century came up just before the tea break, off 183 deliveries.
But as Ponting moved into the 90s the left-armer moved over the wicket, in the negative style that Shane Warne employed on day two, and speared his deliveries on leg stump. Hussey's watchful knock was ended eight overs after Ponting as he failed to get his bat out of the way and toe-ended onto his stumps.
Ponting had to wait to take a single off Flintoff and record his second century of this series from 183 deliveries. The highlight was an audacious hook off a bouncer from Steve Harmison but there were just seven other boundaries on a slow outfield.
Having declared on 551-6 on the second evening, England had already made a good start by dismissing Justin Langer before stumps. England had looked tired as the first ball grew older but their morning display was unrecognisable from the side that lost the first Test by 277 runs.
Hoggard had looked innocuous bowling five overs as the hosts reached the close 28-1. Harmison, who conceded 177 runs for a single wicket in Brisbane, appeared to be back in form, bristling with pace and, crucially, accuracy.
But on Saturday morning he began to find just a little swing, and mixed in some off-cutters to keep batsmen on their toes. His afternoon spell of 0-14 off six overs included Hussey's six.
Left-hander Hayden was tempted into pushing at a delivery angled across him and just leaving him a little, with Geraint Jones pouching the edge. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, though, struggled to make an impression, and had to resort to bowling over the wicket on Ponting's leg stump.
Martyn began confidently but Hoggard's daring in pitching the ball up a little more brought a little more away-swing, with Ian Bell at gully profiting from Martyn's grope. Hoggard had looked innocuous bowling five overs on the second evening as the hosts reached the close 28-1.
But on Saturday morning he began to find some movement off the pitch by scrambling the seam and cutting his pace a little.
Left-hander Hayden was tempted into pushing at a delivery angled across him and leaving him a little, with Geraint Jones pouching the edge.
Martyn groped in ugly fashion at a ball well pitched up and edged to a diving Ian Bell at gully.