Ntini keeps Australia in check

Makhaya Ntini struck twice in two balls before Australia recovered from 15 for three

Makhaya Ntini claimed three wickets as South Africa gave Australia food for thought on the opening day of the first Test in Perth.

The hosts overcame a terrible start to reach 341 for nine by stumps at the WACA, with Simon Katich (83), Michael Clarke (62) and Andrew Symonds (57) hitting half-centuries.

But Australia will be disappointed with the way several batsmen threw their wickets away, particularly Clarke, Symonds and Brad Haddin.

Nevertheless, they would probably have been happy with a 300-plus score after crashing to 15 for three as Matthew Hayden fell for 12 and Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey failed to score.

In a sensational start to the match, Hayden got off to a flyer, bludgeoning Ntini for two fours in the opening over. A third, punched down the ground, forced the pace bowler to alter his approach - with immediate effect.

He opted to go around the wicket to the left-hander, and found sufficient movement off the seam to take the outside edge and provide Graeme Smith with a straightforward catch at first slip.

Ntini struck again next ball, removing Ponting courtesy of a fuller delivery that found a thicker edge. AB de Villiers made no mistake at third slip.

Hussey survived Ntini's hat-trick ball but two overs later edged Dale Steyn to third slip, where de Villiers took a brilliant catch diving forward.

Katich and Clarke combined to save what had threatened to become a sinking ship with a fourth-wicket stand of 149.

Katich brought up his half-century and Australia's 100 with a cut for six over third man, but he was living dangerously against Morne Morkel.

Morkel’s tactic of bowling yorkers at the left-hander reaped its rewards, although it was a full toss that eventually pinned Katich in front.

Clarke drove Paul Harris tamely to Smith in the next over to leave Australia 166 for five, but Symonds and Haddin mounted another fightback.

They made hay in the final session, at the expense of Harris and Jacques Kallis in particular, yet captain Smith persevered with his aggressive field settings despite seeing South Africa concede 93 runs in little more than an hour.

They paid off as Symonds, having reached his fifty off 63 balls, was caught in the deep via a leading edge off Harris, and the second new ball accounted for Haddin, who lofted Ntini straight to JP Duminy.

Steyn induced a mistimed drive from Brett Lee and Morkel claimed a deserved second wicket off what turned out to be the last ball of the day by bowling Mitchell Johnson for 18.