Warner century pushes South Africa to a spot

David Warner took over from Mitchell Johnson as South Africa's tormentor-in-chief as the Australian opener blitzed a quickfire century to extend his team's huge lead on the third day of the first Test on Friday.

Warner was dropped three times in a characteristically cavalier 115 off 151 balls and featured in a partnership of 205 runs for the second wicket with Alex Doolan. Australia closed the day 479 runs ahead of their hosts at 288 for three in their second innings, a massive lead with two days still to play.

Doolan fell 11 runs short of a debut century, caught behind by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers off part-time spinner JP Duminy in the last hour of the day.

Shaun Marsh (44) and Michael Clarke (17) will resume on the fourth day as Australia dominated again following a seven-wicket haul for Johnson who helped bowl out South Africa for 206 in their first innings before lunch.

South Africa paid a heavy price for dropping Warner when he was on 27 when substitute fielder Dean Elgar spilled a high one in the deep and when two wild slashes provided top edges for the slips that Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith got hands to but could not hold.

Warner and Doolan, whose 89 runs came off 154 balls, piled on the agony for the top-ranked side, whose ordinary bowling was matched by uncharacteristically sloppy fielding.

AUSTRALIA (I Innings): 397 all out
SOUTH AFRICA (I Innings, O/n: 140/6)
Smith c Marsh b Johnson    10
Petersen c Haddin b Johnson    2
Amla lbw Siddle    17
Du Plessis c Clarke b Johnson    3
De Villiers c Warner b Johnson    91
Duminy c Johnson b Lyon    25
McLaren b Johnson    8
Peterson c Clarke b Johnson    10
Philander lbw Lyon    15
Steyn (not out)    7
Morkel c Haddin b Johnson    0
Extras (B-14, LB-2, W-1, NB-1)    18
Total (all out, 61.1 overs)    206
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-15, 3-23, 4-43, 5-110, 6-126, 7-140, 8-189, 9-202. Bowling: Harris 17-3-51-0, Johnson 17.1-1-68-7, Siddle 13-1-33-1, Lyon 14-0-38-2.
AUSTRALIA (II Innings):
Rogers b Steyn    1
Warner c Smith b Peterson    115
Doolan c De Villiers b Duminy    89
Marsh (batting)    44
Clarke (batting)    17
Extras (B-3, LB-13, W-6)    22
Total (for 3 wkts; 69 overs)    288
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-206, 3-243.
Bowling: Philander 11-2-28-0, Steyn 13-2-60-1, McLaren 11-0-47-0, Morkel 11-2-38-0, Peterson 19-0-87-1, Duminy 4-0-12-1.