Ponting was in fantastic form

Akhtar beat Gilchrist's defence with a ball registered at 94.2 mph in his second over - but TV replays showed the paceman should have been called for a no-ball.

Ponting notched his 50 in 51 balls before Abdur Razzaq got the vital breakthrough when he had Waugh caught behind for 47 in the 18th over.

Just when it seemed Ponting was destined for a three-figure score, he hit a Saqlain Mushtaq delivery into the hands of Razzaq at deep long-on.

Earlier, Pakistan recovered from a poor start to finish their innings 257 all out thanks to a fruitful sixth-wicket partnership between Yousuf Youhana and Rashid Latif.

The pair came together when Pakistan were precariously placed at 85 for six with Australia on the attack.

But their promising 124-run partnership was brought to an end when Latif, who had scored 66, was runout after a horrible mix-up with his partner in the 44th over.

However, Youhana kept the runs flowing in the closing stages, finishing on 91 not out, despite losing captain Waqar, Saqlain and Akhtar in quick succession.

Both Youhana and Latif had reached their half centuries off successive deliveries from Shane Warne.

Ian Harvey has taken two wickets

And they capped their 100-run partnership in style - Youhana producing the shot of the day when he drove Brett Lee for four through the covers.

Latif came to the crease when Warne removed Azhar Mahmood in the 22nd over for his third wicket of the day.

The leg spinner had Mahmood caught behind by wicketkeeper Gilchrist for no score.

The all-rounder's dismissal swiftly followed the wickets of Saeed Anwar and Younis Khan.

Both men were removed by Ian Harvey, who had Anwar well caught by Warne for 35 and Khan given out leg before.

Warne had earlier struck with two wickets in his first over of the day, removing Razzaq and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

The leg-spinner had Razzaq stumped when he overbalanced attempting to play a floated delivery down the leg side.

And Inzamam followed suit two balls later when he recklessly charged down the wicket to a wide Warne delivery, leaving Pakistan reeling at 45 for three.

Australian new ball pair Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath had made life difficult for the Pakistan batsman in the early overs in Cardiff.

Brett Lee was not bowling at full pace

Lee, who was drafted into the Australian side when Jason Gillespie tweaked a hamstring while training, made an immediate impact when he removed Shahid Afridi in only his second over in Cardiff.

The paceman had Afridi expertly caught at second slip by Mark Waugh attempting to cut a relatively straight delivery.

But Lee finished his 10 overs in costly fashion, conceding 85 runs for only one wicket.

Pakistan captain Waqar won the toss and elected to bat on what looks to be a good pitch at Sofia Gardens.

Australia:Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh (capt), Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath

Pakistan: Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Abdur Razzaq, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Azhar Mahmood, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif (wkt), Waqar Younis (capt), Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar

Umpires: A Whitehead (Eng) and P Willey (Eng)
Third Umpire: R Julian (Eng).

Match referee: B Hastings (Nzl).