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Ponting leads Australia recovery in second test

Captain Ricky Ponting top-scored with a resolute 77 as Australia recovered from a wobbly afternoon session to reach 285 for five on the opening day of the second and final test against India.

By (Reuters)

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Published: Sat 9 Oct 2010, 6:09 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 1:20 PM

Australia, 1-0 down in the series, appeared to have squandered a perfect start when they lost three wickets for 33 runs after lunch.

Ponting then featured in two half-century partnerships with Mike Hussey (34) and Marcus North before the skipper fell in the 76^th over.

North was unbeaten on 43 and Tim Paine eight not out when bad light stopped play for the day.

Earlier, Ponting’s decision to bat first on a slow track was vindicated when the in-form Shane Watson (57) put on 99 for the first wicket with Simon Katich (43).

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh removed Katich in the first over after lunch and followed up by dismissing Michael Clarke for 14.

In between, spin colleague Pragyan Ojha cut short Watson’s stay when keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni collected an edge behind the stumps.

Watson, who also scored 126 and 56 in the first test in Mohali, hit nine fours in a fluent knock.

Ponting and Hussey overcame some early jitters to add 66 runs for the fourth wicket and rebuild the innings.

Seamer Zaheer Khan had Hussey caught by Virender Sehwag but Ponting kept going until Suresh Raina trapped him leg before to end a 58-run fifth-wicket stand.