Ricky Ponting and Clarke double tons take Australia to 569/7 at tea

Adelaide, Jan 25 : Ricky Ponting struck his sixth double century as Australia continued to pile on the agony of the hapless Indians by reaching to a mammoth 569 for seven at tea on the second day to take control of the fourth and final cricket Test here today.

Ponting, who was eventually out for 221, became the second Australian double centurion besides his captain Michael Clarke (210) who reached to his double ton in the morning session at the Adelaide Oval pitch which has turned into a featherbed.

India made a semblance of a fight by removing Ponting and Clarke and ending their record fourth-wicket partnership as they grabbed four wickets in the afternoon session in which 100 runs were scored off 30 overs.

Clarke and Ponting’s 386-run stand was the highest ever at this ground but they failed to overtake Australia’s best for fourth wicket — 388.

No sooner than the play resumed after lunch, Clarke was cleaned up first ball by Umesh Yadav with a delivery which brushed his pads on way to hitting the stumps.

The Australian captain took just 275 balls for his 210 runs, his second Test double ton, though he occupied the crease for 380 minutes. Clarke smacked 26 fours and a six.

Ponting and Hussey (25) then put on 50 runs for the fifth wicket before the pair was separated due to a good work in the field by the Indians.

Hussey flicked a delivery of Ravichandran Ashwin on the onside which was stopped at forward short leg by Gautam Gambhir who flicked the ball on to the stumps while the batsman was out of his crease.

The big wicket of Ponting came the tourists’ way as the veteran batsman pulled Zaheer Khan ferociously but straight into the hands of Sachin Tendulkar at backward square leg boundary. Ponting batted for 516 minutes and faced 404 balls for his 221 runs, hitting 21 fours in all.

PTI