Aussies need 448 runs to wrap-up the series at St George’s Park.
Australia were set a target of 448 to win when South Africa declared their second innings on the fourth morning of the second Test at St George’s Park on Sunday.
Australia were 31 for no wicket at lunch.
Hashim Amla completed his 21st Test century – and his fifth against Australia – and finished on 127 not out when captain Graeme Smith declared at 270 for five.
South Africa added 78 runs in 17 overs on Sunday. Quinton de Kock (34) was the only batsman dismissed.
Australia were left to see out 71 overs on the fourth day and another potential 90 on Monday – but rain is forecast for the final day.
Chris Rogers and David Warner made a confident start to Australia’s second innings, with Rogers striking three boundaries as he reached 21 not out at lunch, the first time he has reached double figures in the series.
South Africa took the field without left-arm bowler Wayne Parnell, who suffered a groin injury in the first innings, and were left with three specialist fast bowlers as they sought to level the three-match series.
Australia won the first Test in Centurion by 281 runs.
Amla, who was 93 not out overnight, hit 16 boundaries in a 176-ball innings.
His tally of five hundreds against Australia equalled a South African record shared by Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers.
Lunch scores on the fourth day of the second Test between South Africa and Australia at St George’s Park on Sunday.
South Africa, first innings, 423
Australia, first innings, 246
South Africa, second innings (overnight 192-4)
G. Smith b Johnson 14
D. Elgar c Haddin b Siddle 16
H. Amla not out 127
F. du Plessis c Haddin b Siddle 24
A. de Villiers c Haddin b Johnson 29
Q. de Kock c Clarke b Lyon 34
J. Duminy not out 18
Extras (b2, lb6) 8
Total (5 wkts dec, 64 overs) 270
Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Smith), 2-42 (Elgar), 3-112 (Du Plessis), 4-167 (De Villiers), 5-231 (De Kock)
Bowling: Johnson 15-1-51-2, Harris 13-1-74-0, Lyon 17-2-48-1, Siddle 19-2-89-2
Australia, second innings
C. Rogers not out 21
D. Warner not out 10
Extras 0
Total (0 wkts, 8 overs) 31
Bowling: Steyn 3-0-18-0, Philander 3-0-9-0, Morkel 2-0-4-0
Match situation: Australia need 417 runs to win with ten wickets remaining in the second innings
Toss: South Africa
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Richard Illingworth (ENG)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
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