Proteas in charge despite wickets

Jacques Kallis, who was not out on 102, perished without adding to his overnight score, while JP Duminy and Mark Boucher also fell cheaply in response to the tourists' first-innings 209.

It left AB de Villiers (90 not out) and Albie Morkel (27 not out) with the task of extending the Proteas' lead, which had been extended to 299 after the opening session.

The day began in Cape Town with De Villiers reaching his 18th Test fifty in just the third over of the day, when he pushed a Hilfenhaus delivery through midwicket for a single.

Two deliveries later though, an error of judgment led to the departure of captain Kallis. A shortish ball from Hilfenhaus saw the all-rounder attempt to pull the ball into the leg side, but he succeeded only in lifting the ball straight up into the air, handing a simple return catch to the bowler.

Duminy was next to follow for seven, when he dragged a wide delivery outside the off-stump onto his stumps whilst attempting a pull Johnson, leaving South Africa 443 for five.

Boucher was then given out caught behind by Brad Haddin almost immediately after by umpire Steve Bucknor.

However, he referred the decision claiming he had not got an edge to the Johnson delivery with TV official Billy Bowden ruling in his favour.

But he was out just eight balls later chasing a full angled delivery from Johnson and edging to Ricky Ponting at slip for 12.

But debutant Morkel began aggressively, taking just 31 balls to reach 27, and offered De Villiers good support as the home side looked to bat Australia out of the game.