Ponting stands firm on tough opening day

Close Australia 228 for 5 (Hussey 10*, Symonds 4*) v South Africa
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Ricky Ponting fought for his runs in the first two sessions after winning the toss © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting moved alongside Don Bradman's 29 centuries in an innings that lacked his usual carefree quality but was wildly impressive in its application on a yesteryear sort of opening day at Durban. While Ponting's 103 was essential in Australia's tramp towards 228 for 5, it was a performance of scrapping and squinting on another difficult surface as he attempted to stay in control of the contest. The method worked until his dismissal, after which they lost 3 for 21 as Makhaya Ntini breathed brutal late fire.

South Africa gave Ponting regular and crucial donations in the field and he accepted them in the type of gutsy display expected of previous Australian captains. Ponting is undoubtedly a fine and courageous player, but his most memorable returns - Old Trafford 2005 is another exception - usually come from flashing pulls and drives rather than hours of willing himself through regular bouts of discomfort.

He refused to relax during two-and-a-half sessions and only on cutting Nicky Boje to raise his century did he allow himself a smile. He was wise to avoid the earlier mood changes as the break for the celebration cost him when he departed next ball to a loose drive. As Ponting reached three figures Damien Martyn, the batsman who was most at ease as the team scored at 2.59 runs an over, walked to his captain and administered a couple of congratulatory punches to his shoulder. By that time Ponting was used to taking hits and avoiding knockouts after more than five hours of sparring.

Ponting's main reprieve came on 5 from Mark Boucher, but there was also a serious error on 36 when Smith and Jacques Kallis looked at each other from first and second slip as the ball slid between them. Kallis was also involved when another Ponting nick fell centimetres short on 52, and his bowling forced a further misjudgment only to see it arrive at Boucher on the bounce. Then on 98, as Ponting started to tire, Kallis narrowly missed winning an lbw that was heading down the leg side.

The pitch is the second of the series that has made batting difficult and Ponting sweated over his runs in the hope the surface would settle. Countering periods of inconsistent bounce and hints of movement, no batsmen looked fluent until Martyn, who entered with three beautiful boundaries - a back-foot force, a square drive and a superb ease through cover - and finished with a crisp 57. Even he was hit on the shoulder failing to understand the bounce of a Ntini short ball - his most damaging and surprising delivery was still to come - and another from Kallis forced a frightened fend to safety.

Usually so smooth, Ponting had to shelve his regular flourishes, but pulling remained a productive weapon and he unleashed some fierce ones in his 11 boundaries. The cross-bat shot nearly ended Ponting's innings in its early stages, but Boucher, who apparently saw a doctor this morning for treatment of an illness, could not get across to the leg side quickly enough and the edge ricocheted through the webbing of his left glove. It was a costly miss compounded by the later let-offs.

Herschelle Gibbs finally pouched Ponting from his 225th ball and the dismissal led to Martyn ending his entertaining stay with an edge off Ntini as Australia stuttered from their hard-won position of 198 for 2. The danger earned Brett Lee a promotion as nightwatchman for Andrew Symonds, and he soon wished for more protection from a charging Ntini. Lee departed to a suspect edge and two balls later Symonds was struck painfully in the helmet grille as the ball kept coming at his face despite his efforts to sway away.

The impact of the bouncer split Symonds's lip and blood dripped quickly from the cut in a vicious conclusion to a swinging day. Australia's medical staff ran out to patch up Symonds and he bravely - and shakily - remained at the crease, finishing unbeaten on 4 as a batch of shorter balls brought forward a light offering.

Ntini, who was the most successful bowler with 3 for 50, also gave South Africa a perfect start when he dismissed Matthew Hayden for 0 with his second ball and the eighth of the match. Hayden offered a lazy attempt at a drive but his loss was absorbed through a 97-run second-wicket partnership between Ponting and Langer.

Playing patiently, Langer left numerous balls but could not master the conditions, especially when Andre Nel, who was warned for running on the danger area in his second spell, came around the wicket. However, it was Kallis who removed Langer for 35 when he angled the ball towards the slips and collected the batsman's diagonal blade. There was no doubt about the ball carrying this time and Australia were 97 for 2.

Shaun Pollock delivered the ideal holding line throughout, giving up only 33 runs in 20 overs in his return from a back injury. He was mostly responsible for keeping Australia's scoring rate so low, although Kallis was frugal before Ntini provided the important breakthroughs at both ends. However, the catching and field settings of Graeme Smith were again costly as Ponting grabbed the charity and dragged his side with an admirable and record-equalling century.

Matthew Hayden c de Villiers b Ntini 0 (0 for 1)
Driving full and wide to third slip

Justin Langer c Boucher b Kallis 35 (97 for 2)
Leaned back and away from his body; easy take

Ricky Ponting c Gibbs b Boje 103 (198 for 3)
Loose drive to short cover

Damien Martyn c Kallis b Ntini 57 (218 for 4)
Outside edge to a rising ball, taken by second slip

Brett Lee c Boucher b Ntini 0 (219 for 5)
Pushed at delivery, but missed the edge