Vodafone Challenge: Somerset v Australians at Taunton, 13-16 Jul 2001 CricInfo Live Report

Vodafone Challenge: Somerset v Australians at Taunton, 13-16 Jul 2001
Mark Easterbrook

Australians 1st innings: Lunch - Day 1, Tea - Day 1, Stumps - Day 1,

LANGER FOLLOWS PONTING'S LEAD

Contrasting centuries from Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer allowed Australia to score 348-3 on the opening day of the Vodafone Challenge match with Somerset at Taunton.

Ponting marked his first game in charge of the Australians with a magnificent 128, which contained 20 fours and two sixes and came from 130 deliveries.

Langer struggled for fluency early in his innings, but by the end of a day in which 24 overs were lost to rain he had reached 104 not out.

His hundred came from 176 balls, included 13 fours and was a much-needed boost for the former Middlesex captain after his poor start to the tour.

Somerset opted to rest five of their regular Championship side and brought in Pakistan Test stars Aamir Sohail and Shoaib Akhtar as guest players.

Aamir Sohail spent most of his day at second slip before bowling a few overs of spin late in the day, while Shoaib Akhtar proved as expensive as any of the Somerset attack.

He was despatched for three fours and a six in one over by Ponting, as the 26-year-old Tasmanian made the most of the short, straight boundaries and a quick outfield.

Shoaib finally gained some reward for his efforts in the 42nd over when Ponting, looking to cut, was bowled by a full-length delivery.

Earlier, Matthew Hayden had fallen for six when he edged Jamie Grove high to Keith Parsons at third slip.

Michael Slater departed for 28 when he was pinned lbw by Jason Kerr as he looked to work the ball on the legside.

Mark Waugh provided the other major contribution of the day as he finished with 55 not out in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 118 with Langer.

CAPTAIN PONTING COMPLETES CENTURY

Acting Australia captain Ricky Ponting completed his century in the 5.2 overs of play possible between lunch and tea on the first day of the Vodafone Challenge match with Somerset at Taunton.

A heavy shower during the lunch interval delayed a restart until 3.10pm and then, after 25 minutes play, more rain forced the players back into the pavilion.

Ponting resumed on 94 and reached his ton with a cut over the slips for four off Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

His hundred came from 108 balls, contained 17 fours and two sixes and was the perfect way to celebrate his first game in charge of the world champions.

Ponting's day had started well when he won the toss and elected to have first use of an excellent batting pitch.

Matthew Hayden was caught at third slip by Keith Parsons off Jamie Grove for six, but thereafter the bat dominated ball and the run rate rattled along at more than five an over.

Michael Slater fell lbw to Jason Kerr for 28, but Ponting and Justin Langer have since put on 130 for the third wicket in a score of 192-2 from 36.2 overs.

Akhtar, making a guest appearance for Somerset, suffered as much as anyone as Ponting took three fours and a mid-wicket six off him in one over before lunch.

Langer, looking for a big score after a poor start to the tour, began with a couple of edgy shots through the slips before he settled into more confident mode.

CAPTAIN PONTING TAKES SOMERSET ATTACK APART

Ricky Ponting marked his first game as Australia captain with a sparkling, unbeaten 94 before lunch on the opening day of the Vodafone Challenge match with Somerset at Taunton.

Ponting took charge after the tourists decided to rest seven of their victorious First Test side, including captain Steve Waugh and his deputy Adam Gilchrist.

The Australians also left out Brett Lee from the side originally named for the match, a decision made to protect a slight ribcage injury. Damian Martyn came in as replacement.

The 26-year-old Ponting treated a near-capacity crowd of around 4,500 to some glorious strokeplay as Australia reached 176-2 from 31 overs at the interval.

After Ponting won the toss, openers Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden had to contend with a fiery new ball spell from Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who is making a guest appearance for Somerset in this match.

Slater was struck on the arm guard as he ducked into a short-pitched delivery from Akhtar from the last ball of the third over.

The next delivery saw Hayden depart for six, when Jamie Grove induced a defensive edge to Keith Parsons at third slip.

Slater and Ponting added 53 in eight overs before Slater fell lbw to Jason Kerr's second delivery. But there was no respite for Somerset as the tourists proceeded to crack along at nearly six an over.

Ponting took three fours and a mid-wicket six in one over from Akhtar and struck three successive fours off Grove.

His fifty arrived from just 45 balls and, by lunch, he had hit 16 fours and two sixes in his 86-ball innings.

Left-hander Justin Langer, looking to state his claims for a Test recall, had a couple of fortunate edges through the slips early on before progressing to 35 not out.