Punter catches up with Sunny

Ponting added 116 to his first innings 103, while Hayden hit 102.

8220;Ricky is head and shoulders the number one in the world,8221; said Hayden. 8220;On all surfaces and in all conditions he8217;s been a wonderful player for the past 18 months or two years. At such a young age he8217;s mastered all conditions. He8217;s a generational player. He8217;s definitely going to be remembered as one of Australia8217;s finest for years to come.8221;

Hayden said the weather was a worry, with more cloud and possible rain predicted for Tuesday. 8220;The pitch seems to have settled down nicely and we8217;ll have to work very hard for our win,8221; he said. 8220;We8217;ll need a full day8217;s play although leg-spinner Shane Warne could come into his own. It will turn a lot.8221;

In an attempt to keep play under way in poor light today, Ponting used medium-pacer Andrew Symonds and Warne after tea but only another 2.1 overs were bowled before play was called off.

South African coach Mickey Arthur said he was confident his batsmen could save the match. 8220;It8217;s time for the batters to step up to the plate,8221; he said. 8220;They probably let the bowling unit down in the first innings and I am confident they can do it tomorrow.8221;

Australia piled up 307 for four before declaring. South Africa needed to bat out a possible 131 overs to avoid a series-deciding second successive Defeat, but the early stoppage reduced that to a possible 98 tomorrow. It was the second time in three Tests that Ponting, who hit 103 in the first innings, made two centuries in a match against South Africa. He made two hundreds in his 100th Test appearance in Sydney in January.

Brief scores: Australia 369 038; 307/4 Hayden 102, Ponting 116 vs South Africa 267 038; 29/0.