Duminy rescues South Africa

JP Duminy's sensational 166 helped South Africa open up an unlikely first-innings lead

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A maiden Test century from JP Duminy and a record ninth-wicket partnership helped South Africa gain the upper hand over Australia on a remarkable third day of the second Test at the MCG.

Duminy, who feared he would be dropped for this game to accommodate Ashwell Prince's return, hit a superb 166 while Dale Steyn made a Test-best 76 as South Africa were eventually bowled out for 459 in their first innings - a total which seemed fanciful at the start of the day.

Thankfully for the home side, Matthew Hayden, potentially fighting to save his career, and Simon Katich survived a testing two-over spell prior to stumps to leave Australia four without loss and trailing by 61.

It took Australia, without paceman Brett Lee all day due to a foot injury, until 20 minutes before the close to claim the last of the four wickets they needed to end South Africa's innings.

The Proteas, who began the day on 198 for seven, are now dreaming of a stunning victory a matter of hours after staring at a heavy defeat.

They have Duminy - playing in only his second Test - and Steyn, whose previous Test best was 33, and some uncharacteristically poor fielding from Australia to thank for the stunning turnaround.

Duminy had shared a seventh-wicket stand of 43 with Morne Morkel late on day two and added 67 for the eighth wicket with Paul Harris before uniting with Steyn. Their epic 180-run stand was the highest for the ninth wicket in Tests between these two countries.

Duminy, who last week kept Australia at bay with a nerveless half-century on his debut as South Africa completed an exhilarating run-chase to win the first Test in Perth, was again a thorn in the side of Ricky Ponting's men.

Dale Steyn was dropped three times in his immensely valuable 76, putting on 180 with Duminy

Batting with the maturity of a veteran, Duminy - the last man out - served notice of a glittering Test career with an innings of the highest class.

The 24-year-old momentarily lost his rhythm after lunch when he was tied down by Nathan Hauritz, but he emerged through that tricky period and, upon reaching the 90s, was gifted a five courtesy of four overthrows.

Duminy brought up his century with a glorious cut and, after rubbing salt into the wounds by edging Mitchell Johnson for consecutive boundaries, reached 150 with an exquisite on-drive.

Despite batting with the tail, Duminy's faith in his partners did not waver until he was joined by last man Makhaya Ntini, and they more than repaid his confidence.

Harris was the first to prosper, hitting a brisk 39 before the part-time medium pace of Michael Hussey brought about his downfall as he was caught in the deep by Mitchell Johnson.

That wicket fell at 11.12am and it was not until 4.20pm - when Steyn was eventually dismissed - that Australia would again celebrate.

Steyn was spared on 32 by Ponting, who put down a relatively simple chance at second slip off Johnson, and on 33 by Hussey, who failed to lay a finger on a skier after losing it in the sun.

Hauritz, the unfortunate bowler on that occasion, had nobody to blame but himself when he failed to complete a return catch from Steyn on 57.

Three minutes shy of four hours at the crease, Steyn eventually lost concentration and his wicket when he was bowled by Peter Siddle, the pick of Australia's bowlers with figures of 4-81.

Duminy eventually fell to a tired shot when he was caught at short fine-leg sweeping Hauritz, but not before adding another 28 with Ntini.