Ponting guides Australia
to victory

Ricky Ponting hit a six to win the match and take himself to a century as Australia clinched their Test series against South Africa by winning the second match by four wickets at Newlands on Tuesday.

The victory ensured that Australia retained the World Test championship.

With three runs needed, Ponting, on 94, swung a short ball from left-arm spinner Paul Adams over the backward square leg boundary to hoist his 10th Test century.

Ponting's spectacular finish capped a tense afternoon in which Adams struck twice within seven balls as the world champions stumbled within sight of their triumph.

Australia, set 331 to win, were cruising to victory until Mark Waugh was caught behind off Makhaya Ntini to be third man out in the last over before lunch when 80 runs were still required.

But they lost three more wickets before Ponting and Shane Warne (15 not out) settled the series 24 minutes before tea on the final day.

Adams bowled Steve Waugh (14) and trapped Damien Martyn leg before wicket and there was another anxious moment for the world champions when Adam Gilchrist was caught at midwicket off Jacques Kallis after making a quick 24 when another 26 runs were needed.

Australia had been set to make the 10th highest winning fourth innings total in Test history and it looked easy when Ponting and Matthew Hayden (96) punished the bowlers at the start of the day.

Hayden fell four runs short of a fifth successive century in Tests against South Africa when he was second man out with the total on 201. The big left-hander chased a wide ball from Jacques Kallis and edged a catch to South African captain and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Hayden hit centuries in each of the first four Tests which Australia played at home and away against South Africa this season. Australia won all four games but needed to win the three-match series in South Africa to retain the championship crown ahead of the second-placed home team.

Hayden and Ponting took command from the start of play, hitting Adams out of the attack after just two overs.

Australia started the day at 131 for one, needing 200 more to win. South Africa opened with Adams, who took four for 102 in the first innings, but Hayden and Ponting took 18 runs off him in two overs, including a cover-drive for four and a straight six by Hayden.

With the pitch playing easily, Adams was the bowler most likely to trouble the tourists but the early assault followed similar tactics last evening. Boucher took Adams off with figures of none for 65 off 10 overs and he did not return until he bowled a single over shortly before lunch.

South Africa's below-strength seam attack did not cause any major anxiety as the two batsmen continued to play aggressively until Hayden was out. He made his 96 off 141 balls with 15 fours and a six.

Scoreboard

Mail Cricket Editor