Australia led Pakistan by 264 runs on the first innings when they were dismissed for 568 after tea on the third day of the third and final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting scored 207 while Adam Gilchrist blasted a quickfire 113 after the pair
shared a fifth wicket partnership of 153 runs in 139 minutes.
Legspinner Danish Kaneria was the best of the Pakistan bowlers, capturing seven for 188, while paceman Naved-ul-Hasan accounted for the remaining three scalps.
Australia started the third day at 340 for four in reply to Pakistan's 304, with Ponting on 155 and Gilchrist 17.
The first session was washed out by rain but the Australians quickly made up for lost time, smashing 169 for the loss of just one wicket between lunch and tea then adding another 59 in the final session.
Gilchrist launched a savage assault on the Pakistan bowlers, pounding 14 fours and five sixes to post his 13th test hundred, reaching triple figures with a six off Shahid Afridi from 109 balls in 129 minutes.
Ponting was content to let Gilchrist take centre stage but resumed the lead role once he departed, driving Naved to the boundary rope to reach his double century after tea off 311 deliveries in 461 minutes.
Ponting's double century was his fourth in tests, and he joined an exclusive club of 13 players worldwide to achieve the feat.
The only other Australians to have made at least four double centuries were Don Bradman and Greg Chappell.
Ponting's innings ended when he dragged a ball from Naved on to his stumps while Gilchrist was one of three Australians to be stumped by Kamran Akmal off Kaneria.
- REUTERS
