Marco Jansen struck twice just before the tea break to leave Australia 191 for four at tea on Day two of the third and deciding Dafabet test at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Matt Renshaw (74) and Cameron Green (65) shared in a 126-run stand for the third wicket before Jansen (11-3-28-2) made the breakthrough. Australia had resumed after lunch on 90 for two, still trailing South Africa's first innings total of 329 by 239 runs.
Renshaw and Green batted superbly, despite both surviving a review when on 49 and 22 respectively, and reduced the deficit to 145 before the tall left-arm pace of Jansen made the breakthrough.
Jansen first had Renshaw caught behind by Ryan Rickelton, although Renshaw stood his ground before Temba Bavuma immediately signalled for the review. The ball brushed the face of the bat and Renshaw had to depart after striking 10 boundaries. Green departed in Jansen's next over, as Simon Harmer grabbed a sharp chance at first slip with Green trudging off after striking eight fours and two sixes.
Josh Inglis and Alex Carey survived some fiery bowling from Jansen, heading into the dressing room unbeaten on five and one respectively with Australia still 138 runs in arrears.
Harmer (14-4-43-2) had claimed a double-wicket maiden prior to the luncheon interval, dismissing Travis Head (41) with his first delivery, chopping on to end the opening 58-run stand and then having the out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne caught by Aiden Markram at first slip without scoring.
Renshaw and Green paced the rest of the morning session without any further troubles.
Pat Cummins had won the toss on Tuesday and asked the Proteas to take first strike, to the surprise of many. The decision looked to be the incorrect one as Markam (78) and Marques Ackerman (95) enjoyed the sunny skies, adding 140 without loss in the morning session.
Australia though fought back in the post-lunch session, claiming four wickets while restricting the hosts to just 81 runs. It was also spin that broke the opening stand of 158 - a new record for South Africa at Newlands against Australia - as Nathan Lyon (23-1-71-2) had Ackerman stumped just five runs short of a maiden test ton.
Markram, who had been dropped on 39 by Head from the bowling of Mitchell Starc (16.3-2-72-6) shortly before lunch, was next to go, trying to pull Josh Hazlewood (15-3-59-1) only to sky the ball to Starc in the long-on region.
Bavuma (0) lasted just three balls as he was bowled by Lyon and then the left-arm spin of Cooper Connolly (9-0-41-1) accounted for Matthew Breetzke (2), trapped in front. Ryan Rickelton (42) and David Bedingham (50) went to tea with the hosts on 221 for four.
The evening session belonged to Australia and Starc in particular. Shortly after the tea break, Starc removed Bedingham, caught by Hazlewood at fine leg and then had Mulder edging behind to Alex Carey for just two.
Rickleton and Jansen (52) then stemmed the flow with a 95-run stand for the seventh wicket before the new ball caused absolute chaos. Starc, with some excellent left-arm pace, claimed four wickets in the space of six deliveries to end the innings shortly before the close.
Rickelton was trapped plumb in front, two balls later Jansen was castled and then in his next over, Starc clean bowled Coetzee (0) with the first delivery and then trapped Rabada (0) in front with the third ball.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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