Tea South Africa 423 and 58 for 2 (Amla 24*, du Plessis 1*) lead Australia 246 (Warner 70, Smith 49, Morkel 3-63) by 235 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Dale Steyn flattened Brad Haddin's middle stump, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Port Elizabeth, 3rd day, February 22, 2014
South Africa built a dominant position on the third day at St George's Park as they reached tea with a lead of 235, but Graeme Smith's problems continued when he fell cheaply against Mitchell Johnson and the home side are likely to have to cope without Wayne Parnell's bowling for the remainder of the match after he suffered a groin strain.
Parnell limped off midway through his ninth over, but the other South Africa bowlers combined effectively to dismiss Australia for 246 and earn a 177-run advantage. It was set to be even more until a pesky last-wicket stand of 37 between Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, who would have been out without scoring had South Africa reviewed when he gloved a short ball from Dale Steyn, ensured the follow-on was not an issue for Smith. He was always unlikely to enforce in any event, despite a dodgy forecast for the final day which will need to be factored into any declaration should the situation present itself.
Morne Morkel received reward for his hostile bowling which continued into the third day to finish with three wickets, although Johnson's name was worthy of being among that tally after he dusted up the quick bowler who then missed a straight ball from JP Duminy.
Johnson responded in kind when he had the ball in hand, finding Smith's inside edge to take out leg stump after earlier being unimpressed with Smith pulled away from the first delivery of the innings which he then clipped to the boundary. It was superbly edgy, tense Test cricket. Hashim Amla came out at No. 3 despite earlier dislocating a finger when he could not hold a tough chance at gully and was unbeaten at tea on 24, but Dean Elgar did not make the interval when he edged Siddle from around the wicket.
South Africa's fielding again failed to reach the high standards expected of them - Robin Peterson, on as sub for Amla, dropped a dolly at square to reprieve Steven Smith - but the bowlers continued to create enough chances that no single miss proved overwhelmingly costly, although the errors could yet add up to hurt.
David Warner had been among those given a life when he was dropped on the second evening by AB de Villiers, but his innings was ended early in the morning session to give South Africa an even stronger hold on proceedings. Philander, who teased the batsmen with his usual combination of line and length, accounted for Warner with a wide delivery that the batsman could not resist flashing at.
Four balls and two fours from Smith later, Nathan Lyon was dismissed for the first time in nine innings spanning 160 deliveries. Morkel, who pounded him from around the wicket, banged in another one, quick and short, and Lyon was in two minds about whether to play. He made room and forced himself into a shot, which he ended up playing onto his stumps.
South Africa could have had a third scalp in the next over when Amla dropped Haddin on 1. Amla's replacement, Peterson, then put down a simple chance at square leg when Smith flicked Steyn off his pads.
Smith cashed in on his lifeline and attacked Parnell and Steyn, dealing with the hint of swing with relative ease. Halfway through his ninth over, Parnell then pulled out of his delivery stride and, on trying to start again, aborted all efforts. He walked to Smith, handed him the ball and trudged off with a slight limp. He was immediately taken to hospital for scans which confirmed a strain, but not a more serious tear.
Steyn continued to find movement and following an appeal for lbw when one tailed back into Haddin he then found a gap between bat and pad as the keeper went for drive, the ball snaking to take out middle stump. With a bowler down, Smith had little choice but to introduce spin and Duminy operated in tandem with Steyn. Johnson tucked into his half-volleys but had a much tougher time against Morkel, who was relentless with the bouncer in his second spell. He hit Johnson on the glove and ribs and then on the helmet but could not dismiss him.
That wicket went to Duminy who had Johnson playing for the turn and missing, only to find the off stump knocked back. Shortly after lunch, Smith became Morkel's third when he was given caught behind via the DRS when the third umpire used a spike on Snicko to decide it was sufficient prove to over-turn the on-field not-out. The look on Darren Lehmann's face suggested he did not believe it was conclusive prove.
Harris and Siddle showed that the surface remained true for batting; Harris cleared the follow-on target with a six over midwicket against Philander and timed the ball sweetly through the leg side before driving at a full delivery, edging high to second slip
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