Johannesburg, Feb. 27: Australia’s bowlers picked up where their batsmen left off on Friday, ripping through South Africa’s top order as the tourists remained in the driving seat on Day Two of the first Test at the Wanderers.

The South Africans reached 85/3 at the close, trailing by 381 runs in their first innings after dismissing Australia for 466 at the end of the second session. Opening batsman Neil McKenzie was at the crease on 35 with A.B. de Villiers on 13 in an unbroken 36-run stand for the fourth wicket when stumps were drawn.

New-ball seamers Mitchell Johnson and debutant Ben Hilfenhaus needed only eight deliveries to have the South Africans struggling with two wickets down and as many runs on the board. South Africa captain Graeme Smith got a nick behind off Johnson from the fifth ball of the innings for nought and three deliveries later Hilfenhaus had Hashim Amla caught at second slip by Australia skipper Ricky Ponting for one.

Despite falling early, the 33-year-old all-rounder Jacques Kallis became the eighth player, and the first South African, to make 10,000 Test runs when he ran a single off Peter Siddle in the 10th over of the innings. Kallis made 27 but got a thick edge to Michael Hussey at gully to leave South Africa in further trouble at 49-3 before McKenzie and De Villiers steadied the ship.

Debutant Marcus North had earlier compiled a century after he and Brad Haddin resumed Australia’s first innings at 254/5. — AFP