Clarke helps Australia to strong position

Despite a damaging spell from Dale Steyn - who finished with five for 87 - the Australians added 114 to their overnight total thanks to an unbeaten 88 from Clarke before they were eventually dismissed for 394 with the last ball before lunch.

Clarke shared important stands of 45 with Brett Lee, 26 with Nathan Hauritz and 42 with last man Peter Siddle as Australia's lower order again frustrated the Proteas attack.

It could have been much worse for South Africa had it not been for Steyn, who claimed three wickets in an incisive eight-over spell on the second morning. Unable to live up to his lofty reputation in Perth, Steyn made amends in Melbourne in collecting his 10th five-wicket haul.

Bowling from the Great Southern Stand end, the paceman grabbed the wickets of Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Hauritz but did not receive much support from the other end as Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel failed to threaten.

A talking point of the morning was the dismissal of Hauritz. South African captain Graeme Smith asked umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrove to confirm the ball had carried to him at first slip but despite inconclusive video evidence, Hauritz was sent on his way.

Steyn had earlier combined with Jacques Kallis at second slip to remove Lee, who played some elegant strokes in his 21, with a delivery that left the batsman late. He claimed his fourth scalp three balls later when he clean bowled Johnson through bat and pad for a duck.

After Hauritz's dismissal the Proteas chose to spread the field early in the over, allowing Clarke to milk easy singles as they focused on securing the wicket of Siddle.

But the Victorian batted with more skill than his place in the order would suggest, displaying sound defence and judgment to stick with Clarke and allow the home side to push towards 400.

Siddle eventually fell for 19 to Kallis, who thoroughly deserved a wicket after bowling well with no success on the opening day.