Terbrugge has taken two wickets on his comeback

Their first success came early on. Justin Langer was out in the second over as David Terbrugge enjoyed a dream Test recall for South Africa.

Terbrugge, absent from the Test arena for three years, removed the prodigious left-hander with his first ball of the Test, as he skied a pull to square leg.

Matthew Hayden was also out before lunch, edging Jacques Kallis to Neil McKenzie at slip.

Ponting, however, was in awesome touch, collecting runs almost at will.

He had advanced the score to 169-2 when he responded to Mark Waugh's call for a sharp single only to be defeated by Herscelle Gibbs's direct throw.

Australia then stumbled to 230-6, as both Waughs and Damien Martyn fell - Terbrugge grabbing his second wicket by bowling Martyn through the gate.

Ponting played some crisp drives

But Gilchrist and Shane Warne put on 57, before Warne was caught behind off Makhaya Ntini.

Brett Lee did not last long, but Gilchrist went on to hit 91 before he was ninth man out, caught in the deep.

Lee bowled very quickly as the late summer shadows lengthened.

And he caused Kirsten more than the odd problem - hitting the experienced left-hander with two unpleasant bumpers.

It was no huge surprise when he eventually gloved one behind to fall for 21, as Lee celebrated in vociferous style.

The umpires brought the players off for bad light moments later.

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

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