Ponting's 124 steers Australia to 317

AUS-317/7: AUSTRALIA ON TOP

India manged to absorb Australia's brutal early surge, but the hosts remained in control through half-centuries to Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting to reach 2 for 160 after 25 eventful overs. The Australia top order decided blasting out of a form slump was the best option and in a game of no consequence to them they raced like a bushfire until pegged back by the slower bowlers.
Ponting and Hayden have been two of the main under-achievers in the series and responsible for sleepy starts that were from the 1980s. The modern approach returned at the SCG and this opening was like a Twenty20 affair as they thrashed to 92 in the first ten overs. A change in India's tactics cut the heavy scoring and they were rewarded with the run-out of Matthew Hayden, who went for 54 off 62 balls after being sent back by Ponting. By the halfway mark Ponting was 69 from 67 and Michael Clarke was 13.
The form of Ponting has been the biggest worry for Australia, but he shook off the problem when he leaned into a defensive shot from his first ball and it went for three. Crisp drives to cover and midwicket also eased his concern and the biggest sign he was free came with a pulled six to welcome Irfan Pathan. There were more pulls, quick singles and pushes down the ground on the way to his first half-century of the series.
Early bullying also came from Hayden as he continued to walk down at the bowlers. He slogged a boundary over mid-on off Ishant Sharma and followed the next ball with a pulled six as the breathtaking opening started to peak. Sharma and Sreesanth, who came in after Munaf Patel suffered food poisoning, were unable to do anything to stop the initial pummeling. Sreesanth went for 37 off four overs and Ishant was only slightly better in giving up 37 from five.