A composed century from skipper Graeme Smith has put South Africa within range of winning the first Test against Australia - although the tourists will need to complete the second highest run chase in history to do it.
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, Brad Haddin reaching 94 to set the Proteas 414 to win.
The South Africans lost Neil McKenzie early in the innings for 10, but Smith's century and a half-century from 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.
But the re-introduction of 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.
Amla appeared untroubled by the Australian attack as he steadily compiled 53 runs - but Lee finally took a well-deserved first wicket when he had the batsman caught behind three overs after Smith departed.
However, Jacques Kallis (33 not out) and AB de Villiers (11no) combined to set up an exciting final day.
