A composed century from skipper Graeme Smith has put South Africa within range of winning the first Test against Australia.
On a stormy, rain-interrupted day at the WACA, where play stretched deep into the evening, South Africa bowled Australia out for 319 on the stroke of lunch, top scorer Brad Haddin reaching 94 to set the Proteas 414 to win the Test over five sessions.
The South Africans lost Neil McKenzie early in the innings for 10, completing a poor Test for the opener who only managed two in his first dig, but Smith's century and a half century to Hashim Amla helped the Proteas finish on 227 for three, needing 187 to win with seven wickets in hand and a day to play.
Smith and Amla combined for 163 runs, the pair barely presenting a chance to the Australians as they fended off Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza with ease, moving along to 172 for one late in the final session as the Proteas appeared set to overtake the target with ease on day five.
But the re-introduction of spearheads Brett Lee (one for 40) and Mitchell Johnson (two for 56) into the attack changed the complexion of this topsy-turvy match once again.
After taking McKenzie's wicket in the first hour, Johnson claimed his second scalp of the innings and his 10th of the match when he trapped a fatigued-looking Smith in front on 108 with a slower ball that the skipper attempted to flick off his pads.
Despite having taken a secondary role in the partnership, Amla appeared untroubled by the Australian attack as he steadily compiled 53 runs, using his trademark flicks to great effect.
But Lee finally took a well-deserved first wicket for the match when he had Amla caught behind three overs after Smith departed.
Having bowled a bouncer at the elegant number three bat, Lee followed it up with a fuller delivery that seamed slightly off the deck, earning the bowler a slight edge that carried through to Haddin after Amla attempted to play it off the crease.
It was the very least Lee deserved for an intimidating performance, especially early in the innings, where he defied a gusty wind to bowl with venom, pinning down the South African openers for seven overs as he beat the bat and threatened with virtually every ball.
