Australia in the driving seat

Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis and Morne Morkel were all victims of the all-rounder's nagging medium pace, which followed Mitchell Johnson's earlier burst that reduced the Proteas to none for two in the first over of their innings, replying to Australia's 352.

In the end, JP Duminy was left to carry South African hopes, with his unbeaten 73 helping them reduce the deficit to 214 - still 15 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

Resuming after tea with the score at 62 for four, Duminy reached his half-century from 88 balls when playing Peter Siddle through the gully region for four, before McDonald snared Harris with a good delivery that jagged back to bowl the batsman for four.

Two balls later he dismissed Kallis, who returned to bat after X-rays revealed no serious damage to his jaw, which was hit by a Johnson delivery.

The all-rounder chipped a tame delivery on leg stump straight to Ricky Ponting at short midwicket for 22.

McDonald then cleaned up Morkel for a duck as the home side slumped to 106 for seven, before Dale Steyn (eight not out) and Duminy took the hosts to the close without further damage.

Earlier in the innings, captain Graeme Smith was hit on the right hand as he tried to fend off a short delivery from Johnson on the leg side and was forced to retire hurt for two.

At the start of the day, the Proteas produced a much-improved bowling performance.

Steyn was the pick of the bowlers with three for 83, while there were two wickets each for Makhaya Ntini, Kallis and Harris.