Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden ensured Australia were in a commanding position after the third day of the second Test against South Africa in Melbourne on Wednesday by helping establish a 154-run lead with eight wickets remaining.
Hayden (45 not out) was in sight of his 23rd Test half century to guide the home side to 110 for two after Symonds had earlier sliced through South Africa's middle order and taken a career best 3-50, to help dismiss South Africa for 311.
Brad Hodge (17) was the other not out batsman at stumps. Brett Lee had also taken three wickets in South Africa's innings.
Herschelle Gibbs top-scored for South Africa with 94, while A B de Villiers was the next-highest contributor with 61. Australia scored 355 in their first innings.
Debutant opener Phil Jaques and captain Ricky Ponting were the only Australian wickets to fall when Jaques was leg before wicket to Andre Nel for 28, while Ponting was leg before wicket to Shaun Pollock for 11.
With the pitch offering variable bounce and considerable turn, the home side would hope to bat for most of Thursday and use their leg-spin duo of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill to bowl South Africa out on the fifth day on Friday.
South Africa batted out the entire final day to secure a draw in the first Test in Perth.
LEE STRIKES
After resuming the day on 169-2, the tourists scored just 57 runs in the first session with a hostile Lee capturing two of the three wickets to fall before lunch when he bowled Jacques Kallis (23) and Jacques Rudolph for 13.
Ashwell Prince was the third wicket to fall in the first session when he was caught at silly-point by Ponting off Warne for six.
South Africa continued their watchful approach after lunch before Symonds took three wickets for six runs in a devastating 19-ball spell.
Mark Boucher was adjudged leg before wicket for 23, although television replays suggested the ball was going over the stumps, to leave South Africa 260-6.
Symonds then bowled Gibbs, who missed a delivery that nipped back from outside off stump to be dismissed six runs short of his 15th Test century, in his next over.
The all rounder then had Shaun Pollock (9) trapped in front to complete his three-wicket haul.
Warne bowled Nicky Boje for 12 and MacGill had Andre Nel caught by Mike Hussey in the covers for 14 to end the innings.
Scoreboard:
Australia first innings: 355 (M. Hussey 122, R. Ponting 117, M. Hayden 65; A. Nel 4-84)
South Africa 1st innings (Overnight: 169-2)
A. de Villiers lbw b McGrath 61
G. Smith lbw b Lee 22
H. Gibbs b Symonds 94
J. Kallis b Lee 23
A. Prince c Ponting b Warne 6
J. Rudolph b Lee 13
M. Boucher lbw b Symonds 23
S. Pollock lbw b Symonds 9
N. Boje b Warne 12
A. Nel c Hussey b MacGill 14
M. Ntini not out 10
Extras (b-2 lb-7 nb-15) 24
Total (all out, 111 overs) 311
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-122, 3-184, 4-192, 5-214, 6-260, 7-265, 8-281, 9-291, 10-311.
Bowling: G. McGrath 27-13-57-1 (nb-3), B. Lee 28-5-92-3 (nb-9), A. Symonds 20-6-50-3 (nb-3), S. Warne 21-7-62-2, S. MacGill 15-3-41-1.
Australia 2nd innings
M. Hayden not out 45
P. Jaques lbw b Nel 28
R. Ponting lbw b Pollock 11
B. Hodge not out 17
Extras (b-1 lb-2 nb-6) 9
Total (for 2 wickets, 37 overs) 110
Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-82.
To bat: M. Hussey, A. Symonds, A. Gilchrist, S. Warne, B. Lee, S. MacGill, G. McGrath.
Bowling: S. Pollock 11-2-29-1 (nb-5), M. Ntini 8-2-17-0, J. Kallis 3-0-16-0 (nb-1), A. Nel 10-1-31-1, N. Boje 5-0-14-0.
