Perth: Like on the first day, when the sides regularly traded the advantage, the tourists suffered a swift slump when both Smith and Amla departed in nine balls, turning a strong start into a wobbly 3 for 110. Jason Krejza, playing his first Test in Australia, provided the speed bump to the 90-run partnership when Amla tried to turn a well-flighted, spinning delivery to the legside and was bowled for a breezy 47 from 67 balls.

In the next over Smith, who was battling a nagging left elbow problem, was attempting to continue his acceleration by driving at a wider delivery from Mitchell Johnson, but he played on for 48. After Neil McKenzie went to a horrible pull shot to Johnson before lunch, when South Africa's only aim was to reach the break without loss, Smith and Amla started watchfully before expanding on their return.

After 110 for three, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers added 124-runs for fourth wickets, but in last half-hour South africa lose five wickets, and all wickets taken by Johnson he took 7 for 42.

Reports by session
1st Session: Runs 61, Wkt 2, Ov 24.5
1st Session: Runs 124, Wkt 2, Ov 29
1st Session: Runs 92, Wkt 5, Ov 34

Brief Score: South Africa 243/8 (Kallis 63, de Villiers 63, Johnson 7/42) trail Australia 375 (Katich 83, Clarke 62, Symonds 57, Ntini 4-72) by 132 runs.
Full Scorecard