South Africa will be called on to mount their biggest rearguard action yet as Australia finished the third day of the third Test 151 runs ahead with all 10 second-innings wickets intact on a wearing Sydney Cricket Ground pitch on Monday.
Peter Siddle’s pace and fullish length, plus the vagaries of a pitch that was already sporting several cracks, combined to dismiss South Africa for 327.
Mark Boucher’s defiant 89 saved South Africa from further embarrassment, but with two days left in the match and a target of well over 200 looming, Australia look set to restore some face with a win to leave the series at 2-1, unless bad weather prevents them from following through.
The Australian attack all but dried up the runs in the morning session as South Africa resumed on 125-1 and batted without any of the spark or intent that characterised their batting in Perth and Melbourne.
Jacques Kallis (37) fell in the second over of the day, driving hesitantly and edging Mitchell Johnson to first slip.
AB de Villiers then struggled to 11 before he was certain he could amble a single on the leg side, but was well-beaten by Johnson’s direct hit.
Hashim Amla had, by then, gone to his half-century but lasted just eight more balls before playing across the line to the dead-straight Andrew McDonald and being trapped leg-before for 51.
The pugnacious Boucher was, typically, the only batsman who dared to challenge the Australian ascendancy and he picked up eight fours and a six, successfully marshalling the tail after a Johnson ripper trapped JP Duminy lbw for 13 and left South Africa on 193-5.
Morne Morkel played an invaluable supporting role with his gem of an innings of 40, but Siddle then hit the mark with full deliveries at pace to finish with 5-59.
Johnson took 2-69, but debutant Doug Bollinger deserves a word of consolation for toiling without any luck.
Australia began their second innings with a lead of 118 and Matthew Hayden had licence to tear into the bowling, streaking to 18 not out off 23 balls, with three fours, while Simon Katich also struck a couple of boundaries to finish the day on nine not out.
The fact that Dale Steyn had an excellent leg-before appeal against Hayden turned down in the first over suggests luck is now going Australia’s way.
Still, even coming out with a 2-1 series win would be a tremendous achievement by South Africa.