Boucher refused to give up hope for South Africa

South Africa have a great chance of winning the third and final Test against Australia after a brilliant unbeaten 55 by Mark Boucher.

The wicket-keeper hauled South Africa back into contention in the final session after Australia had taken the initiative in Johannesburg.

At the close, South Africa had reached 250-8, a lead of 283 over Australia in a topsy-turvy day.

Earlier Australia were dismissed for, Brett Lee hitting a Test-best 64.

Lee was involved in controversy when he refused to walk after a low catch by Boeta Dippenaar at slip when on 45.

Veteran South African bowler Shaun Pollock thought he had taken his first wicket of the match but Lee stayed at the crease and replays were inconclusive whether it was a clean catch or not.

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Umpires Tony Hill and Steve Bucknor were not allowed to refer the decision to the third umpire and gave Lee the benefit of the doubt.

The partisan crowd booed when Lee reached his third Test fifty a few balls later.

Pollock got a wicket soon after when Mike Kasprowicz gifted a catch to Herschelle Gibbs at gully.

Lee decided it was time for some fireworks and smashed Ntini for a six and a four.

Clark has been Australia's best bowler

But Australia's innings came to an end, 33 runs short of South Africa's first innings total, when Lee skied a shot to Nicky Boje at mid-off. This gave Ntini first innings figures of 6-100.

Justin Langer, hit on the head on Saturday, was not well enough to bat and stayed at the hotel rather than travelling to the ground.

Clark made early in-roads for Australia, bowling AB de Villiers for four, and Dippenaar was out on 20 after a brilliant reflex catch by Matthew Hayden before lunch.

But Gibbs kept the scoreboard ticking over with some enterprising shots however he was out for 53, mistiming a drive to Damien Martyn, to leave South Africa on 100-3.

Ashwell Prince, who made 93 in the first innings, was the next to go after hitting just nine. Warne appealed loudly to Bucknor for a catch by Andrew Symonds and after a few seconds' thought he raised his finger.

That brought stand-in captain Jacques Kallis and Pollock, who had been moved up the order, to the crease, but the partnership did not last long as Kallis was judged lbw to Warne.

Pollock did the job that was asked of him and hit a 47-ball 40 before holing out to Lee, leaving South Africa on 186-7.

They seemed in a precarious position when Nicky Boje was out for four but Boucher, ably assisted by Andre Nel, took the fight to the tourists.

Nel, 18 not out off 39 balls, equalled his Test record with the bat.

Australia lead the three match series 2-0 but face a tough ask to claim a whitewash.