Adam Voges scored 101 off 168 balls on Monday as Western Australia reached 306 for five at stumps on the opening day of the three-day tour match against South Africa.
It was the first hit-out in Australia for the South Africans, who are preparing for a three-test series against Australia starting December 16 in Perth.
South Africa won the toss and sent the home team in to bat and had them in trouble at 67 for three just after lunch.
But Voges 215-minute innings and a 146-run partnership with Marcus North (71) frustrated the tourists.
Charl Langeveldt returned 2-76 — including the key wicket of Australia opener Justin Langer (21) — while Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Nicky Boje added one wicket apiece.
The Proteas went into the match without vice-captain Jacques Kallis — the joint international cricketer of the year last season — because of an elbow tendon problem.
Earlier in the day, South Africa sounded an early warning to Australia after piling on the pressure in the first session of a three-day tour match against Western Australia.
At lunch in the match at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground, the home team were struggling at 73-3 after being sent into bat in overcast conditions.
South Africa struck an early blow when they dismissed Australian skipper Justin Langer for just 21.
Langer, returning after a rib injury, had looked uncomfortable against the opening pace duo of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, though showed enough form to belt two fours and a six in his innings lasting 50 balls.
First change bowler Charl Langeveldt made the breakthrough with the score at 30, when he bowled the prodigious Australian with a leg cutter that moved sharply off the wicket and took out the off stump.
Fellow opener Chris Rogers was next to fall, caught near the boundary by Langeveldt as he tried to hook a rising delivery from Andre Nel.
His demise for 22 runs left Western Australia at 51 for two and brought newcomer Clint Heron to the crease.
Heron, playing only his second first-class match, added just 13 runs before edging Pollock behind to acting captain and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
Boucher was filling in for Jacques Kallis who was left out of the side with an inflamed elbow while regular captain Graeme Smith was out with an injured finger.
The match is a warm-up for the Proteas, who take on Australia in the first Test, also at this venue, on December 16. – Sapa-AFP