Hughes scored his maiden Test century in only his second match

Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich both hit centuries as Australia posted 303-4 on the first day of the second Test against South Africa in Durban.

The duo shared an opening stand of 184 before Hughes was caught off the bowling of Jacques Kallis for 115.

Dale Steyn finally dismissed Katich for 108, either side of which Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke fell cheaply to spin bowler Paul Harris.

Mike Hussey (37 not out) and Marcus North saw the tourists to the close.

It proved a good toss to win for Australia captain Ponting as the South African bowlers were made to toil for most of the day on a flat pitch favourable to the tourists' batsmen.

Hughes, playing in only his second Test since his debut a week ago in Johannesburg, was impressive from the off and scored freely via some thunderous stroke-play, particularly from Morne Morkel whom he struck for six fours in the bowler's first two overs.

The 20-year-old thrashed 19 fours and two sixes [the latter of which brought him to his century in consecutive strokes off the bowling of South African spinner Harris] in total during his 151-ball innings.

The match marked the first use of hot-spot technology - the highly-regarded aid that is ideal for detecting which part of a player's equipment the ball has struck - within the referral system and South Africa utilised the first of their allotted two referrals just after lunch when a Harris lbw appeal to a Hughes sweep was turned down.

Umpire Steve Bucknor though upheld the initial decision on the basis of a slight inside edge.

This was not a day to waste chances but South Africa did just that in the 42nd over when Hughes, shaping to guide the ball to safety, succeeded only in gifting a catching opportunity low down to Kallis, who could not hold on to it.

606: DEBATE Hughes has proven that he is a fantastic talent, destroys the SA bowling today. aussie_aussie_aussie

The home side did not have to wait long to make amends, however, as in the next over Kallis prompted a rash stroke from Hughes and Neil McKenzie dived to take an excellent catch at gully.

At the other end, Katich manufactured a far more patient innings than his opening partner but was not without moments of fortune himself.

Hasim Amla was guilty of dropping him at midwicket, off the bowling of Steyn, with the batsman barely past his half century.

This lapse would prove to be far more costly to the South Africans, though, as Katich would go on to amass 108 from 190 balls before Steyn managed to get a delivery to kick up off a good length and catch an outside edge that Graeme Smith gratefully accepted at first slip.

Unfortunately for Australia they had already lost Ponting for just nine runs by this point when he attempted to loft a Harris delivery straight but instead miscued it high for McKenzie to claim the catch at deepish mid-off.

South Africa thought that they had claimed the scalp of Hussey soon after when umpire Asad Rauf gave the batsman out lbw to a Morkel delivery.

Hussey initially seemed resigned to his fate before, following what appeared to be prompting from Clarke, he referred the decision, which was ultimately overturned due to the ball pitching outside leg.

Shortly afterwards, the home side did claim their fourth wicket as Harris managed to get a ball to straighten after landing on middle stump, outfoxing Clarke completely on its way to bowling him.

This brought North to the wicket and he and Hussey, showing resolve after his early scare and in the face of recent poor form, steadily amassed an unbeaten 17 and 35 respectively in the face of some intimidating bowling in fading light.

Katich was a model of concentration during his five-hour innings

Afterwards, Katich said it had been a particularly memorable day.

"Today was special - to get two hundreds and to be able to see Phillip get his first," he said.

"I said last year he would be a very special player and he started to prove that today. He played superbly and, with the temperament he's got, he's not fazed by anything."

After sharing a stand of 108 with Katich, Hughes spoke of his huge pride in what he had achieved.

"It was a very exciting time, something I'll never forget," he said.

"They brought the guy up from deep mid-wicket when I was on 99, the bowler threw it up again and I just thought the ball had to go again.

"To join some of the greats of the game like Stan McCabe, Neil Harvey, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden on the honours board for scoring a century here is tremendous."

South Africa coach Micky Arthur said what happened on Saturday morning would have a huge bearing on the outcome of the game.

"The first half-hour tomorrow morning will be key and we'll have to use the new ball to good effect," he said.

"The overhead conditions will be crucial and I hope it's overcast to start with, before the clouds burn off and leave the batting conditions like they were today."

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