Clark's movement away from the bat troubled South Africa's top order

Ashwell Prince led a South African fightback as they reached 238-6 after Australia had made the early running in the third Test at Johannesburg.

Stuart Clark, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz moved the ball around menacingly off the seam to reduce the home side to 140-4.

But Prince and Mark Boucher added 72 either side of the tea interval before Boucher (24) was lbw to Andrew Symonds.

Bad light ended play shortly afterwards with Prince 79 not out.

South Africa went into the game with Jacques Kallis leading the team for the first time after regular skipper Graeme Smith injured a finger in practice.

It meant a return to opening the batting for Herschelle Gibbs with Boeta Dippenaar, a regular in the one-day side, making his first Test appearance for 10 months.

Jacques felt it was tight but it's difficult to say because it went fast; Hayden's not the type to cheat Kallis on Rudolph's dismissal More day one reaction

Kallis opted to bat first after winning the toss but it was hard going for AB de Villiers and Gibbs against the new ball.

They managed to stay together until the 14th over when Clark tempted de Villiers (12) into a loose shot and Damien Martyn took a good catch diving forward at mid-off.

Gibbs (16) only lasted a further three overs before he inexplicably shouldered arms to a ball from Kasprowicz which hit middle and off.

Dippenaar was in aggressive mood, hitting seven fours in his 32 as he and Kallis steadied the innings with a stand of 59.

Hayden controversially claimed a catch off Rudolph

But he was then caught behind for 32 attempting to drive a wide one from Clark and Kallis followed for 32 as a magnificent off-cutter from Lee found a narrow gap between bat and pad.

Australia then turned to Shane Warne and he also found the pitch to his liking, extracting considerable turn for both his leg-breaks and googlies.

It was a question of survival in the early stages of their innings for Prince and Jacques Rudolph.

Prince was fortunate to survive on 22 when keeper Adam Gilchrist claimed a catch off the inside edge but the umpire turned down the appeal.

The two left-handers hung on to add 55 for ther fifth wicket before Warne finally had Rudolph caught low at slip by Matthew Hayden for 25.

But Prince found another reliable ally in Boucher and was able to try and put a bit of the pressure back on the bowlers as he collected 10 fours.

Their partnership was eventually broken when Andrew Symonds won an lbw decision against Boucher (24), who was well forward and had reason to feel aggrieved as TV replays suggested the ball would have cleared the stumps.