Fun on and off the field for the Aussie fans

It could have been even better for the tourists with the next ball when Ricky Ponting appeared lucky to get the benefit of the doubt from Australian umpire Simon Taufel after a big lbw shout.

Ponting responded with successive fours off Pollock before hitting Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan on the knee with a hook shot.

Venkataraghavan, hopping in pain, eased himself to the ground but resumed his duties at square leg after a few minutes amid profuse apologies from Ponting.

Ponting's innings came to an end when he attempted to pull Jacques Kallis and was adjudged lbw for 25, leaving Australia at 66 for two.

Hayden and Mark Waugh strolled through the afternoon session, however, taking the score to 227 with some mgnificent strokeplay.

Pollock rotated his bowlers but was unable to stem the tide, with Waugh typically elegant, and Hayden racing from 50 to 100 in just 60 deliveries.

Declaration

Their stand of 181 came to an end after tea when Hayden was bowled by Kallis, having taken his Test tally for the year to 1,250 runs - the highest of any batsman.

Four more wickets went down as Australia continued to look for quick runs, with spinner Claude Henderson removing the Waugh twins - Mark for 74 - and Warne.

McGrath celebrates the wickets of Gibbs

He finished with three for 130, giving him seven wickets in the match, but Kallis was the best bowler with three for 45.

Gibbs and Kirsten began South Africa's reply with the aim of seeing out the day.

But they were parted in the seventh over when Gibbs was out for nine, two balls after crashing McGrath through the leg-side for a boundary.

Boeta Dippenaar came out at number three and was soon unsettled by a waist-high full toss from McGrath, who signalled an apology with his hand.

Warne was the real threat, however, and he beat the outside edge of Kirsten's bat with a googly.

Three balls later he turned one the other way and the ball found the inside edge as Kirsten prodded forward, with Ricky Ponting making no mistake at silly point.

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (capt), Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath. Stuart MacGill (12th man).

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Hershelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (capt), Claude Henderson, Makhaya Ntini, Nantie Hayward. Justin Ontong (12th man).

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Aus), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (Ind).

TV umpire: Steve Davis. Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri).