Australia strode towards a crushing victory over Pakistan in the first cricket Test at the WACA, but the home side's dominance was tinged with heartache as Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting fell desperately short of milestone centuries.

With Australia so dominant and the match headed towards an inevitable conclusion, individual prizes were up for grabs on day three but both Langer, in search of a unique double in Perth, and Ponting, chasing a drought-breaking hundred, fell desperately short.

At least Damien Martyn made it third time lucky, with 100 not out, and ran off as Ponting declared at 5-361.

Set an impossible 564 to win against the world's best attack, Pakistan lost Imran Farhat - LBW to Glenn McGrath for one - and was 1-18 at stumps.

Salman Butt was eight not out and Younis Khan seven not out.

It was a day for nervous nineties, and even Martyn was momentarily denied his excitement when umpire Billy Bowden deemed a single a leg bye instead of a run when the West Australian was on 99 and the crowd was still on edge.

But Martyn put things right next over, and his fifth century this year - off 121 balls, with 11 boundaries - moved him to second on the year's list of run-scorers. He has 1,211 runs in 2004, second to Langer's 1,416.

Langer looked certain to become the first player to score centuries in both innings of a WACA Test after making 191 in Australia's first innings 381, but to his dismay was bowled for 97 by Abdul Razzaq (1-48).

It was the first time Langer was dismissed in the 90s.

Worse was to come, as Ponting - without a century this year and without one as skipper - fell for 98 when third umpire Steve Davis ruled him out stumped off legspinner Danish Kaneria's bowling.

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