Ponting out for eight as Australia crumble

Ricky Ponting fell for eight in his final Test innings as South Africa marched towards victory on the fourth day of the third Test at the WACA Ground. Set a mammoth target of 632 runs to win, Australia lost their first wicket on the second ball of the day and never recovered, limping to 204 for seven at tea as the Proteas edged towards the series win that would see them retain the number one ranking in Test cricket. John Hastings was on two and Mitchell Johnson was three, with a further 428 runs needed by Australia to win. Resuming at 40 for none, the home team made a horrific start to the day when they lost David Warner (29) to the second ball, caught at first slip by Graeme Smith off Vernon Philander. Shane Watson made 25 before he was also caught by Smith, from the bowling of Morne Morkel. That brought Ponting, the second-highest scoring batsman in Test cricket history, to the crease for the last time at the top level, in his record-equalling 168th match. The South Africans formed a guard of honour when Ponting strode to the crease, with the Tasmanian shaking hands with Proteas skipper Graeme Smith as he came out. Ponting got off the mark with a trademark pull shot for four off Morkel from the sixth ball he faced. However, he lasted only 23 deliveries and 40 minutes before falling in unlikely fashion to spinner Robin Peterson, just minutes before lunch. He was caught at first slip by Jacques Kallis attempting to force Peterson off the back foot. Ponting stopped his walk back to the pavilion to raise his bat and acknowledge the crowd, while the Proteas halted their celebrations to offer more applause. He finishes his career with 13,378 Test runs at 51.85, including 41 centuries, but just 32 runs in his farewell series at 6.40. Ponting shares the record for Test appearances for his country with his predecessor as Australian captain, Steve Waugh. Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey briefly steadied the Australian ship with a 58-run stand for the fifth wicket, before both fell in quick succession just before tea. Clarke was stumped from the bowling of Peterson (3-67) for 44, while Hussey became the 13th Australian to pass 6,000 Test runs before being caught behind from the bowling of Steyn (2-51) for 26.