BRISBANE, Australia (AP) โ Michael Clarke posted his first century as test captain on home soil in a chance-filled unbeaten 139 on Saturday, guiding Australia to a 50-run first-innings lead by tea on the third day of the series-opening match against New Zealand.
Clarke shared an 86-run stand with ex-captain Ricky Ponting (78), 60 with Mike Hussey (15) and an unbroken 108-run sixth-wicket partnership with Brad Haddin (47 not out) as Australia reached 345-5 in reply to New Zealand's first innings of 295.
The 30-year-old Clarke had three reprieves โ on 23, 85 and 105 โ all against unlucky 21-year-old paceman Doug Bracewell.
He chopped onto his stumps when the Australian total was 140-3 late Friday and was walking off the field when he was recalled for a no-ball after a review showed Bracewell had overstepped. On Saturday, wicketkeeper Reece Young put down a regulation caught-behind when Clarke was 85 and Jesse Ryder let a head-high catch through both hands at third slip when the Australian captain was on 105.
None of it seemed to bother Clarke, who stroked 19 boundaries and one six โ a straight drive against Vettori which raised his 50 โ in his 17th test century and his third in six innings.
Australia resumed Saturday at 154-3 and added 100 for the loss of two wickets in the morning session, with Ponting trapped lbw by Chris Martin and Hussey caught by Ryder off Vettori's bowling.
Ponting's gritty innings certainly extended his test career, but the former Australian captain's drought has now extended to 29 innings since his last test hundred.
Clarke was on 99 heading into lunch interval and only needed five balls after the interval to reach triple figures โ with a boundary off Bracewell.
Haddin played a steady hand, his 103-ball innings containing just five boundaries as the Australians added 91 runs in the middle session without losing a wicket โ courtesy of some more sloppy field.
One Vettori delivery resulted in a player walking back to the pavilion. Unfortunately, it was his wicketkeeper Young, who was hit in the face by a ball which beat the edge of Clarke's bat and bounced sharply. He left the field, still bleeding, and was replaced by veteran 'keeper Brendon McCullum.



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