Australia set 376-run victory target for South Africa after declaring their innings on 257/4 on Day 4 of the third and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
South Africa need 376 runs to make an Aussie whitewash and claim the numero uno spot in Test rankings with about three and a half sessions to go while Aussies needed a draw to save their top spot.
Skipper Ponting declared Aussie innings the moment they lost Micheal Clarke (41) as Micheal Hussey remained unbeaten on 45.
Earlier, vice captain Michael Clarke (22) and Michael Hussey (31) hold fort for the Aussies, as they helped the team to consolidate their lead to 337 runs at tea with 7 wickets remaining.
Earlier, Ponting (53) was cruising along well but lost his patience as he rushed through on Morkel’s delivery and dragged it on the stumps for a rather silly dismissal. Katich followed Ponting back to the pavilion before Australia got past 300-run mark.
Resuming the day at 33 for no loss, the Aussies lost the wickets of opener Matthew Hayden and skipper Ricky Ponting in their second innings.
Hayden’s poor show with the bat continued as he was clean bowled by Morne Morkel after scoring just 39 runs. Ponting scored a brisk half-century before becoming Morkel’s second victim just after the lunch. Ponting chipped in with 53 in just 57 deliveries.
Then, Ponting (45) and Simon Katich (29) safely negotiated the first session after losing Matthew Hayden and took Australia to 119/1 at lunch on Day 4.
As play resume, Katich was trapped in front of the wicket after scoring a well-made 61 despite Dale Steyn not appealing for the dismissal. Boucher and Kallis appealed form behind the stumps and that was more than enough for the umpire.
After bowling out South Africa for 327 on Day 3, Australia resumed from the overnight score of 33 but once again lost out of form Matthew Hayden at the score of 62 as Hayden once again failed to capitalise on a good start.
Seamer Morne Morkel provided the only breakthrough of the first session for South Africa which fetched crucial 86 runs for Australia.