Australia lead soars in Durban

The 20-year-old, who was unbeaten on 136 when stumps were drawn in Durban, became the youngest player ever to achieve the feat and received good support from Ricky Ponting after the captain chipped in with a well played 81.

Michael Clark was the other unbeaten batsman on 14, with the only other Australian wickets to fall on the day being Simon Katich (30) and Michael Hussey (19) as the hosts were outplayed and outclassed.

Peter Siddle had earlier claimed the final two wickets without the Proteas adding to their overnight total of 138 for seven, leaving them 214 runs behind on the first innings totals.

Siddle followed on the good work done by Mitchell Johnson and Andrew McDonald on day two - when the pair claimed three wickets each - by removing the last two batsmen within three deliveries of the start.

The Victoria paceman struck with just the second delivery when he tempted Dale Steyn to chase a wide delivery that took the toe end of the bat through to Brad Haddin for eight.

His dismissal was followed by that of Makhaya Ntini with the very next delivery when Siddle's angled ball trapped him in front for a duck, leaving JP Duminy unbeaten on 73 and having not faced a ball on day three.

Graeme Smith was the other man not out on two, but the captain was unable to bat after he retired hurt with a broken finger in his right hand.

The hosts were also left 15 runs short of avoiding the follow on, but Ponting opted not to reinsert them.

Instead, the tourists came out on a mission with Katich and Hughes raising the half-century stand in just 66 balls, before the former tried to angle a Jacques Kallis delivery down to third man, but was excellently snapped up by Paul Harris at gully leaving Australia at 91 for one at lunch.