Boucher watches as Gilly goes aerial

Warne hit an impressive 63 and became only the ninth Test player to reach the double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets.

In a fascinating day's play, Makhaya Ntini and recalled spinner Paul Adams led the South African fight-back with two wickets apiece in the hour after lunch.

Adams, who has found considerable turn in the dry pitch, first had Ricky Ponting caught behind off a bottom edge for 47.

And then he bowled Steve Waugh for a duck after a torrid innings by the Aussie skipper.

Mark Waugh never looked comfortable, and Ntini had him caught at backward point by Herschelle Gibbs for 25.

Ntini rattled Damien Martyn with some ferocious bouncers before inducing an edge behind to Mark Boucher to claim his third wicket of the innings.

That left the Australians at a precarious 185-6, and under pressure for the first time in the series, but Gilchist and Warne played beautifully to put the innings back on track.

Another ton

Adams finally had Warne caught, but Gilchrist duly recorded yet another ton following his 204 not out in the First Test.

Ntini and Adams bowled well throughout the day, with each picking up four wickets, but there was no answer to Gilchrist's brutal strokeplay.

Earlier, opener Justin Langer had departed for a brisk 37 after he dragged a wide one from Makhaya Ntini onto his stumps.

Matthew Hayden hit an aggressive 63 as Australia helped themselves to 106 runs in the morning session.

He eventually holed out to Andrew Hall on the boundary after he mistimed a pull off Jacques Kallis.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher (captain), Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams, Dewald Pretorius.

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