Australia declare at 8-519

Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

RICKY Ponting registered his fifth career double-century as Australia declared at 8-519 in the third Test at Bellerive Oval on Friday.

Skipper Ponting (209) and vice-captain Michael Clarke (166) were finally dismissed in the post-lunch session on day two after combining for a record 352-run stand.

They were two of five wickets lost in the middle session as Australia called tea four minutes early by declaring their mammoth first innings closed.

Under-pressure West Australian Marcus North (21), a freewheeling Brad Haddin (41 off 34 balls) and Mitchell Johnson (8) also fell as the home side increased the run-rate.

Nathan Hauritz remained unbeaten on 12.

Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria conceded the most runs in a Test innings at Bellerive Oval finishing with 3-189, while Mohammad Asif (2-104) and Mohammad Aamer (2-97) picked up two wickets each.

Aamer, who dropped Ponting before he scored on Thursday morning, finally dismissed him almost nine hours of batting later when the Australian captain spooned a catch to Mohammad Yousuf at extra cover.

His 437-minute partnership with Clarke ended when his deputy shouldered arms to a Kaneria delivery which went straight on and clipped off-stump.