Donald denies Langer a hundred

Hayden and Langer extended their opening partnership to 202 in the morning session as the tourists struggled in vain for a breakthrough.

They maintained a healthy scoring rate until Langer mis-timed an attempted hook off Donald and was caught by Lance Klusener for 85.

Hayden's century arrived off 158 balls, with 14 fours, and Ricky Ponting contributed 22 before he gloved a bouncer from Nantie Hayward to Jacques Kallis in the last over before lunch.

Australia suffered a setback just four balls into the afternoon session when Hayden attempted to loft left-arm spinner Claude Henderson over the top, but only succeeded in picking out Donald at long-on.

It was left to the Waugh twins to re-establish the home side's momentum and they did so with a stand of 81 for the fourth wicket before Donald returned to bowl Mark for 34.

Skipper misses out

Ponting received a brute of a ball

The home side were 375 for four at tea with Steve Waugh, who had been worked over by Donald and Hayward early in his innings, on 65.

Waugh had lucky escapes on 29 and 34 when short leg Boeta Dippenaar failed to hang onto chances, but missed out on a century when he was run out.

Damien Martyn called Waugh for a sharp single after playing the ball to point but the skipper was beaten by Herschelle Gibbs' throw - the 10th time he had been dismissed in the 90s in Test cricket.

Martyn did his best to atone by scoring 52 before being dismissed by Shaun Pollock, the first of four wickets to fall for just 12 runs as South Africa hit back.

Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel fell cheaply, with the wickets shared between Donald, Pollock and Hayward.

But last man Glenn McGrath faced only five deliveries in the final four overs of play as Adam Gilchrist kept himself on strike to finish on 30 not out.

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (captain), Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Claude Henderson, Nantie Hayward, Allan Donald.

Umpires: Eddie Nichols, West Indies, and Darrell Hair, Australia.

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.