Australia went to tea on the third day of the first Castle Lager Test against South Africa on Saturday on 24 needing just 71 runs to win and with all their wickets intact.
Earlier, South Africa were all out for 197 in their second innings, for an overall lead of 94.
Australia seamer Stuart Clark, playing in his debut match, played a major role in destroying the South African batting order in their second innings, taking four wickets for 34 to add to his five-wicket haul in the first innings, while Shane Warne took three wickets.
South Africa began the day on 70 for three, still 33 runs behind Australia. They lost three wickets in the morning session. When Jacques Kallis was caught by Gilchrist off a rising ball from Clark for 36 in the second over of the morning, the writing was on the wall for South Africa.
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| They lost three wickets in the morning session |
Ashwell Prince and Jacques Rudolph gave the home side some hope with some dogged batting, until Prince was caught by Gilchrist off Clark for 27, just an hour into the day's play.
Mark Boucher had an uncomfortable session at the crease, after Clark hit him in the box off the second ball he faced. The Australians were merciless, peppering Boucher with body blows until he was caught by Justin Langer at mid-wicket off Michael Kasprowicz for two - just two deliveries after he had finally got off the mark.
Rudolph showed a lot of patience and some resistance - he faced 29 balls before he got off the mark with a beautifully driven boundary - and he and Andrew Hall shared a good seventh wicket partnership of 50 in 108 minutes, but immediately after they had reached their half century Shane Warne got a ball to turn square and remove Rudolph's middle stump.
Rudolph made 41 runs off 112 balls, and hit six fours.
Hall and Nicky Boje put on 21 runs together before Boje was caught and bowled by Clark for 14. Andre Nel lasted just four minutes before he was bowled by Warne for a single boundary.
Makhaya Ntini showed little respect for the Australians, but he was never going to last long before he was caught by Kasprowicz off Warne for six.
Langer and Matthew Hayden took Australia to tea without losing a wicket. Langer was not out on eight and Hayden had 12. - Sapa
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