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MELBOURNE, Dec 28 (BBC) Australia put themselves in a healthy position by establishing a 154-run lead over South Africa in Melbourne.
They were 110-2 at stumps day three of the second Test, with Matthew Hayden 45 not out and Brad Hodge on 17, after dismissing the tourists for 311.
Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds picked up three wickets each for Australia - with medium-pacer Symonds achieving his best figures in Test cricket of 3-50.
Among his victims was Herschelle Gibbs, who was bowled for 94.
His dismissal came in the middle of a destructive 19-ball spell by Symonds, which also saw Mark Boucher (23) and Shaun Pollock (nine) sent on their way as they were adjudged lbw.
South Africa began the day on 169-2 and managed to add only 59 runs during the morning in the face of some hostile bowling by paceman Lee.
He shook up Jacques Kallis with a short-pitched delivery before bowling him next ball for 23 and struck again shortly before the lunch interval when he found a way through Jacques Rudolph's defence to dismiss the left-hander for 13.
Ashwell Prince was the other batsman to depart during the morning, managing only six before home skipper Ricky Ponting took a reflex catch at silly point off Shane Warne.
From 226-5 at lunch, South Africa quickly subsided to 291-9 as Symonds claimed his treble and Warne bowled Nicky Boje behind his legs for 12 as he attempted a sweep shot.
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