Australia recover from poor start
December 18, 2008 00:00:00
Australia recovered from a dreadful start to finish the opening day of the first Test against South Africa on 341-9 at the Waca in Perth, reports BBC.
The hosts were reduced to 15-3 after six overs as Makhaya Ntini struck twice to dismiss Matthew Hayden (12) and Ricky Ponting (0) in consecutive balls.
It was only the second golden duck of the Australian skipper's career.
But a 149-run fourth wicket partnership between Simon Katich (83) and Michael Clarke (62) helped salvage the innings.
The pair would have been disappointed when they fell in quick succession just before tea having taken Australia past the 150 mark.
But the score was given an added injection in the final session when Andrew Symonds (57), Brad Haddin (46) and Brett Lee (29) helped the hosts get over their early stutter.
Hayden and Ponting were both caught in the third over of the day and it put an immediate halt to the Australian innings as Hayden began in blistering form.
The left-hander hit three quick fours making Ntini opt to go around the wicket, and when a shorter delivery seamed away from Hayden a thick edge flew to captain Graeme Smith at first slip.
Ntini's next ball then dismissed Ponting, to add to his only previous golden duck suffered against India in 2001, when a fuller ball was edged to AB de Villiers at gully after the captain mis-timed his drive.