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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PHOTOS: Clarke's double century puts Australia in charge
This article was first published 12 years ago

PHOTOS: Clarke's double century puts Australia in charge

Last updated on: January 4, 2012 13:26 IST

Image: Michael Clarke (right) speaks with Ricky Ponting
Photographs: Getty Images

India failed to get a single wicket in the morning session on day two as Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting piled on their misery with a huge partnership to consolidate Australia's position in the second Test in Sydney, on Wednesday.

Clarke was unbeaten on a brilliant unbeaten 251, while Ponting scored his first hundred in two years as Australia took control of the second Test, finishing the second day on an imposing 482 for four.

Clarke hits 18th Test hundred

Image: Michael Clarke celebrates his century
Photographs: Getty Images

Clearly charged with emotion, the 30-year-old reached his 18th Test century, and the first of the series from either side, in the last over of the morning by slapping a Zaheer Khan delivery through the covers.

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Ponting scores first Test century in two years

Image: Ricky Ponting dives to bring up his century
Photographs: Getty Images

Ponting scored his first Test century in two years, reaching the milestone just after lunch.

The 37-year-old, the third most prolific Test run scorer of all time, had made 97 going into the break and was forced to wait nervously for three overs after the resumption of play.

In the end, the vital run came off a single which could easily have seen him run out with the gritty Tasmanian ending up sprawled in the dirt of the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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Ponting brings up 40th Test century

Image: Ricky Ponting celebrates his century
Photographs: Getty Images

After he realised that Zaheer Khan's throw had missed the stumps, he picked himself up, brushed the mud off his shirt and raised both arms to accept a standing ovation from the crowd.

It was his 40th Test century and the first since he scored 209 against Pakistan in January 2010 on his home track at Hobart.

The century ended a tough two years for Ponting, who relinquished the Australia captaincy last March and faced repeated calls for an end to be brought to his Test career.

Indian bowlers suffer at SCG

Image: Ishant Sharma
Photographs: Getty Images

Needing victory to even up the four-match series after a 122-run defeat in the opener in Melbourne last week, India's bowlers had been hoping for some early wickets but instead laboured in the morning heat at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

It was the first period of long dominance for the bat in a series where bowlers have had the upper hand.

The Indian bowling attack lacked discipline the whole morning as the visitors were sent for a leatherhunt by Ponting and Clarke with Australian run rate above four an over.

Ishant gets the wicket of Ponting

Image: Ishant Sharma (right) celebrates with team-mates after taking the wicket of Ricky Ponting

Ishant Sharma finally broke up the partnership when he got some bounce into his deliveries and Ponting caught the ball high on the bat to give Tendulkar an easy catch in the gully.

Ponting departed just before the break for 134 to end the fourth-wicket partnership at 288 and help extend Australia's lead to 158 over India's first innings 191.

The Ponting-Clarke partnership was the 100th century partnership for Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground -- in the 100th Test at this venue!

Clarke continued to torment Indian bowlers

Image: Michael Clarke
Photographs: Getty Images

Clarke reached his 150 from 233 balls and continued to hit the bowlers all over the ground to pass his previous best Test score of 168 shortly before tea.

Sharma could have dismissed him caught and bowled on 182 but just failed to keep hold of the ball on his follow through.

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Clarke hits maiden double century

Image: Michael Clarke celebrates after reaching his double century

Clarke completed his double with two runs through square after 365 minutes, 284 balls and included 24 fours and a single six and Clarke celebrated wildly, running around the pitch swinging his bat in the air.

It was undoubtedly Clarke's day. An authoritative cover drive saw him past Doug Walters' previous Australian record at the ground of 242 and there was still time to raise the 250.

Clarke added 204 runs on the second day. He becomes only the fourth batsman to score 200 in a single day's play against India.

Kohli shows his frustration

Image: Virat Kohli gestures with his middle finger to the crowd

India have never won a Test series in Australia and face three days of hard work if they are to keep alive their hopes of doing so this year.

Australia in sight of big win at SCG

Image: Michael Hussey
Photographs: Getty Images

Hussey joined in the run-spree with some gusto and hit his 50 off 70 balls, reaching the mark an over after hitting two fours and a six in successive balls off hapless spinner Ravi Ashwin.

Clarke was unbeaten on a brilliant unbeaten 251 as Australia took control of the second Test, finishing the second day on an imposing 482 for four.

The Australian captain batted through the day for his first Test double century and the highest score by an Australian at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Hussey pitched in with 55 not out to give Australia a lead of 291 over India's first innings 191.