Sydney, Jan 4: A double-century from captain Michael Clarke, and an outstanding century from Ricky Ponting, put Australia firmly in the driver’s seat on Day 2 of the second Test at the SCG. The Australian batsmen took the sting out of the Indian bowling attack as they lifted their team to a 291-run lead. The ovations received by three Indian bowlers, as they each crossed the three-figure mark in terms of runs conceded, capture the story of a punishing day for the visitors. When play ended today, Clarke was at the crease with career-best figures of 251* batting with Michael Hussey (54*).

After being pushed into a corner by Zaheer Khan early in their innings yesterday, Clarke and Ponting seized the initiative from India with a 288-run partnership. Australia were three down for 37 runs when the duo came together at the crease yesterday and carefully built a partnership that helped prevent a batting collapse. In the process, the duo posted the highest fourth-wicket partnership for Australia, and the highest partnership for any wicket against India.

Clarke scored his 18th century, his fourth as a captain, with a cover-drive off Ishant Sharma before lunch, but the former Australia captain was kept waiting on 97 thanks to some tight bowling by Zaheer Khan. The last few overs before lunch featured some nervous moments for the Australian duo as they tried to reach their respective tons. Ponting ultimately reached the landmark with a push to mid-on post-lunch, but had Zaheer hit the stumps, the batsman would have rued taking that risk. Ponting registered his first Test hundred in nearly two years, 33 Test innings since his last hundred at Bellerive Oval against Pakistan in January 2010, his sixth at this ground.

The duo milked the bowlers throughout their stay at the crease, scoring freely at about four runs per over. Ishant’s inability to bowl a tight line outside off-stump gave them quite a few deliveries to score off. Umesh Yadav, India’s strike bowler in the first Test, was far from impressive and so was off-spinner R Ashwin. Zaheer was the lone bowler to be treated with respect. The batsmen stepped up the pressure by taking singles and dispatching every loose delivery to the fence, pushing the Indians to set a defensive field.

With two set batsmen in the middle, it became increasingly difficult for MS Dhoni to restrict the hosts. After his regular bowlers failed to get a breakthrough, the Indian captain brought in Virat Kohli and Virender Sehwag, hoping for a miracle. The part-timers did a decent job of containing the batsmen until the new ball was taken. Ishant’s first wicket of the match was a much-needed breakthrough for India as Ponting hit one straight to Sachin Tendulkar at point to depart for 134. But that did nothing to stem the flow of runs as Clarke and Michael Hussey continued the onslaught taking the lead to 158 runs at tea.

As Clarke inched towards his first double-ton, Ishant failed to hold on to a return catch when the batsman was on 182. Clarke continued to dominate the final session as the battered bowlers went through the motions. Hussey too joined the run fest and reached his half-century which included a flurry of fours and a six.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 2: Australia 1st Innings 482/4 in 116 overs (M Clarke 251*, R Ponting 134, M Hussey 54* )

At end of Day 1: India 1st innings 191 all-out in 59.3 overs (MS Dhoni 57*, SR Tendulkar 41, J Pattinson 4/43, B Hilfenhaus 3/51, P Siddle 3/55), Australia 1st Innings 116/3 in 26 overs (M Clarke 47*, R Ponting 44*, Z Khan 3/26)