Sydney: Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince were the stars of the day for South Africa as they overcame a wobbly start to finish on a comfortable 230 for three on a truncated opening day of the third test against Australia at Sydney.
An incessant drizzle meant no play was possible before lunch, and when the match did get underway, Graeme Smith made the bold decision to bat first in conditions which were ideal for seam bowling.
By close of play, though, that decision seemed to be right, thanks to a 144-run stand between Kallis, who is unbeaten on 80, and Prince who has scored 62 so far.
Earlier Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath gave Australia a strong start in the third Test after making in-roads into the South African batting on the rain-delayed opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.
AB de Villiers was dropped by Ricky Ponting at second slip off McGrath on two before he was caught behind off Lee for no addition to his score in the sixth over of the innings.
Herschelle Gibbs, who scored 94 in the first innings of the second Test, was bowled by McGrath for 27 in the 11th over of a 12-over first spell.
Smith yet again failed to go on after getting a start and fell leg before wicket to Lee for 39 in 125 minutes to leave his team at 86 for three.
In the series, Smith has had scores of 34, 30, 22, 25 and 39.
At tea, South Africa were 103 for three with Jacques Kallis on 14 and Ashwell Prince not out 8.
Lee and McGrath got appreciable movement in the humid air and off the pitch to trouble the South African batsmen in the extended middle session to make up some of the lost playing time.
Australia lead the series 1-0 after their 184-run victory in the second Melbourne Test last week.
The South Africans gave a Test debut to off-spinner Johan Botha, who was preferred to left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, while seamer Charl Langeveldt came in for injured strike bowler Makhaya Ntini.
Australia went in with both of their leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill on an anticipated spin-friendly SCG pitch.
Ricky Ponting completed his ton of Test matches and became only the ninth Australian to achieve this rare feat.
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