Australia launch Joburg fightback

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It capped a good fightback in Johannesburg from the tourists, who earlier had captain Ricky Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke to thank for instigating the recovery.

Half-centuries from Ponting and Clarke had helped the team recover from the loss of three early wickets - two of which came from the impressive Dale Steyn - to reach 151 for three.

Australia were in more trouble after the pair departed within a short space of time, leaving them at 182 with half the team out shortly before tea, but North (47 not out) looked at home in his first match at the highest level and together with Haddin (37 not out) took the tourists team to the close without any further damage.

Earlier, Steyn's burst set Australia firmly on the back foot as he struck with the fourth delivery of the day to remove another debutant, Phil Hughes, for a duck, before a stunning catch from Neil McKenzie helped him dismiss Simon Katich for three in the ninth over.

Michael Hussey followed not long after when he edged Morne Morkel to Jacques Kallis at second slip for four, leaving the Australians reeling at 38 for three.

Ponting and Clarke tucked in to Steyn and Makhaya Ntini by putting on 58 in the first hour - including 36 in five overs off the two pacemen. Ponting survived some close shaves along the way and, after being dropped by Graeme Smith, he was again deemed not out when South Africa used the first of their two television appeals when he was on 70.

The experienced pair then brought up their century stand in just under 25 overs, but just as Ponting was looking odds on for a century, he uncharacteristically misjudged an inswinging Ntini delivery, which cut back in and brushed his pads en route to taking the stumps for 83.

Clarke and North added 31 for the fourth wicket, before the former found it hard to resist a wide delivery from Steyn and edged an easy catch to Mark Boucher for 68.

Steyn was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three for 82 in 19 overs, while Morkel with one for 65 and Ntini with one for 53 claimed the other two wickets.