Proteas make steady start to run chase

Having weathered a late storm from Brad Haddin, who made 94 for the hosts, South Africa bowled out the home side for 319 at the end of Saturday's first session after Australia's tail had wagged impressively, making 157 runs to show up a top order that had slumped to 162 for seven.

Proteas' opener Neil McKenzie then walked for 10 as the tourists suffered an early setback in their reply, but skipper Graeme Smith (34) and Hashim Amla (15) made it through to tea.

McKenzie became Mitchell Johnson's ninth wicket of the match, the Queenslander generating some swing away from the right-hander as he edged the ball to wicketkeeper Haddin.

Johnson and Brett Lee, bowling into a gusty breeze on a day that threatens storms, produced some particularly tight bowling to open the second session, Lee beating the bat on numerous occasions as the Proteas were pinned down.

So tight was the bowling that McKenzie did not hit the first four of the innings until an hour after it began.

But having removed the opener, Australia could not break through the defences of Smith or Amla, neither batsmen giving into the temptation of hitting spinner Jason Krejza over a tight infield designed to restrict runs.

Earlier in the day, Haddin and Krejza (32) posted a 79-run eighth-wicket partnership, helping Australia recover from 162 for seven late on the third day.

Having slumped to that position, Australia's tail put up an impressive fight as the last three wickets fell for 157 runs.