Australia, bolstered by a hundred by Ricky Ponting, were 280 for six at stumps on the first day of the second cricket Test against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Friday.
The hosts, after electing to bat, lost their first wicket in Matthew Hayden who has been under pressure for lack of form with bat this year. Hayden made eight runs before he became the first victim of Makhaya Ntini.
As the hosts were looking in control, Dale Steyn struck to send back Katich. He followed it up with the wicket of Michael Hussey for a duck. And suddenly Aussie slipped from 1-128 to 3-143.
However, skipper Ponting recovered the hosts who are already trailing the five-match series 1-0. Ponting led from the front with a magnificent hundred that included 10 boundaries and one six.
Ponting was caught by Amla off Harris just before tea as the hosts were reduce d to 184 for four.
Australia lost two more wickets for 96 runs in the final session. All-rounder Symonds who was cleared a couple of days back to play in the match after injury, chipped in with 27. Haddin was the other batsman dismissed for 40. Ntini and Morkel claimed the two wickets.
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