After Clarke and Australia dominated first day piling on five for 482, 224 of them to Clarke unbeaten, South Africa fought back.
Clarke fell early, bowled by Morne Morkel for 230, leaving Matthew Wade and the tail to come. Only youngster James Pattinson put up any resistance with a whirlwind 42 off 35 deliveries, taking Australia to a total of 550 all out.
Morkel was awesome with the ball, taking three wickets in his sixth five wicket haul.
Australia’s run rate of 5.12 an over was the third highest for a completed innings in Test history.
The Proteas captain then came to the crease and was typically solid, leading his side to 2-217 at stumps and amassing 111 not out for himself.
Alviro Petersen, his opening partner, put together a solid 54 before being stupidly run out.
In form Hashim Amla was stumped by Matthew Wade, surprisingly from the parttime leg-spin of David Warner.
From then, South Africa played it safe and sound and will resume on day three to continue eating away at the deficit.
Dangerously for Australia, South Africa has never lost a Test in which Smith has made a century.
It’s all to play for.
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