Sharjah: Ricky Ponting hit 142 not out and Matthew Hayden scored 89 to lift Australia to an imposing total in the third and final Test against Pakistan on Saturday.

Australia, looking for a 3-0 sweep of the series, overcame the fifth ball dismissal of Justin Langer to pile up 298 for three by close of the first day's play at the Sharjah Stadium.

Captain Steve Waugh was the other batsman at the crease on 33, having so far added 65 runs for the fourth wicket with Ponting. But there was no joy for beleaguered twin brother Mark Waugh, who hit five imperious boundaries in 23 before being caught behind off Saqlain Mushtaq.

Ponting and Hayden shared a second-wicket stand of 184 after Langer was bowled by Pakistani captain Waqar Younis in the day's first over. It was Ponting's 12th Test century in 59 matches and the second in the series following his 141 in the first Test played in Sri Lanka earlier this month.

Left-handed Hayden, who hit 119 in the second Test here last week, missed a second successive three-figure knock when he flicked Saqlain only to see the ball stick in Faisal Iqbal's hands at short leg.

After Steve Waugh won the toss and elected to take first strike, Langer played over a swinging ball from Waqar to give Pakistan an encouraging start.

But the slow wicket posed no terror for the batsmen and Hayden and Ponting settled in to tame the injury-hit Pakistani attack. Saqlain toiled hard under the hot sun, sending down 33 overs to claim two wickets at the cost of 125 runs.

Leg spinner Danish Kaneria chipped in with 0-82 from 23 overs, leaving Pakistan to rue the absence of a fifth bowler.

Ponting, who was hurt on the jaw by a delivery from seamer Mohammad Sami which did not rise as expected, has so far hit 13 boundaries and three sixes.

On 86 when Hayden was dismissed soon after tea, Ponting reached his century by lofting Saqlain over the long-on fence for his third six.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Hayden, Ponting near tons; Aussies head for big score