Somerset toil as Ponting and Langer hit centuries

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.

Ponting was delighted to see Langer reach a hundred and said: "Justin was obviously very keen to score runs today because he has not had many hits on the tour.

"But he came through for us, which is good news."

Ponting has now scored 725 runs from just 721 balls on this tour.

He admitted: "I think I'm batting as well as I've ever done."

But Ponting, acting Australia captain in absence of Steve Waugh, thought Somerset could have bowled better.

He said: "I don't think Somerset bowled well early on. They bowled a bit short and if they had pitched it up and hit the right areas it might have been a bit different."