De Villiers stars for Proteas

The right-hander smashed 163 in just 196 deliveries and was well supported by Albie Morkel, who hit a half-century on debut, as the Proteas responded in emphatic fashion to the tourists' 209 first-innings total.

The South Africans now have a 442 lead with seven sessions still to play and will be especially pleased after breaking a 39-year-old record set when they reached 622 for nine declared in Durban in 1970.

Resuming after the lunch break at 508 for six, the hosts came out on a mission blasting 97 runs in the first hour, when they were especially harsh on Bryce McGain and Andrew McDonald.

De Villiers reached his ninth Test century off 149 balls when he scrambled two runs off the Australian leg-spinner, before Morkel reached his 50 in just 59 balls shortly after.

The pair then cut loose, and after Morkel slammed Peter Siddle for consecutive boundaries, his partner took four consecutive sixes from the 140th over bowled by McDonald. However, the medium-pacer hit back by dismissing Morkel for 58.

But de Villiers continued his assault, lifting McDonald for yet another four over the mid-on region to raise his 150 in style.

Spinner Simon Katich was then introduced and he appeared to have struck almost immediately when umpire Steve Bucknor sent Paul Harris on his way trapped leg before wicket. But the batsman asked for the decision to be referred and Billy Bowden reversed the call with the ball having struck the batsman just outside the line.

However, the Australian had his reward in his next over when de Villiers tried to lift him over the mid-wicket fence and could only manage to pick out McDonald, who took a straightforward catch. Dale Steyn was also dismissed by Katich for a duck when he edged a delivery through to Michael Clarke at first slip.

Captain Ricky Ponting then put down a tough chance from Harris off Mitchell Johnson at second slip, before the same bowler managed to induce another edge that was this time snapped up by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 27 as South Africa ended with their third highest score ever in Test cricket.