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Ponting and Clarke just miss record
AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting scored the fifth double century of his Test career and his first on his home ground as he and deputy Michael Clarke narrowly missed out on a slice of history on day two of the third Test against Pakistan at Bellerive Oval in Hobart today.
Resuming at 302-3, having come together on day one with Australia precariously placed at 71-3, the pair eventually put on a staggering 352 for the fourth wicket before Clarke was bowled by leg spinner Danish Kaneria shortly after the lunch break for 166 without offering a shot.
Ponting went on to make 209, his third highest Test score, before he spooned young paceman Mohammad Aamer – who dropped him on day one before he had scored – to captain Mohammad Yousuf at cover before Australia declared right on tea at 519-8.
It was the second highest fourth-wicket partnership in Australia's Test history as Ponting and Clarke only narrowly missed out on wiping out one of the many records of arguably Australia's two greatest batsmen in Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford.
That legendary pair still hold the Australian fourth-wicket record of 388, set against England at Leeds in 1934, while the overall fourth-wicket record stands at 437 set by Sri Lankan pair Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera against Pakistan in Karachi last February.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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