After a 112-run stand for the sixth wicket, South Africa loses 5-10 to be all out for 189 late on Boxing Day at the MCG, before Australia reaches stumps on 1-45.
The collapse was sparked by Cameron Green, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with 5-27.
Day one of the second Test was also marked by tributes for late champion leg-spinner Shane Warne.
Look back at all the action in our live blog, check out the live scorecard, or tune in to our live radio coverage from the MCG.
Key events
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Stumps: Australia 1-45 (Warner 32, Labuschagne 5)
By Simon Smale
So, Australia survives relatively unscathed at the end of the day there, 144 runs in arrears after bowling out South Africa for 189 after tea.
David Warner looked really good until all that late-in-the-day tomfoolery to restrict the number of overs South Africa would be able to bowl, perhaps because his mind was starting to get clouded, because earlier in his innings, he looked as good as he has for a while with bat in hand.
South Africa were their own worst enemy today though - giving away their wickets early and then bowling some real wayward dross with the new ball this evening.
It's been an intriguing day's play though and sets things up nicely for what should be a really hot day tomorrow, with 37 forecast in Melbourne - a good day to bat, you'd have to say.
Thanks for joining Jon and myself on this Boxing Day.
From the pair of us, it's good evening and, once again, Merry Christmas.
12th over - Jansen comes in again
By Simon Smale
Or at least, he's waiting too... Another bat has been run out to Marnus, and another set of gloves run out too. I know everyone does it, but if I were the umpire I'd stop the clock and say you're having two more overs whatever happens.
Labuschagne defends the ball and Jansen gets a warning about the follow through.
Marnus clips off his pads to square leg for three more runs.
The two batters come together and have a chat in the middle. Yawn.
Oh dear! Warner almost played on there, he wanted to leave but left the bat hanging there.
BEATEN! Oh Warner copped a beauty outside off that bounced high, there was a bit of swing there too. Warner suddenly looks shaky.
Warner cuts, good fielding at point.
Warner is going for a walk to take a couple more seconds.
Oh no now he's walked away really late. Not a fan of this. I know you're playing for the close, but that's poor.
Warner fends the last delivery and it will be the last delivery of the day.
11th over - the Uitenhage express, Anrich Nortje comes into the attack
By Simon Smale
Marnus is getting a new bat.
He's testing all of them it looks like, as four are run out into the middle... Bit of time wasting from Labuschagne.
Nortje steams in and unleashes a 147.3kph thunderbolt. What a loosener.
The sun is low now, right in Warner's eyes...
Big appeal! Looked high and possibly pitching outside leg - perhaps not. They won't review it.
Warner fends to the off side, no run.
Four! Up and over the slips and it's a boundary to third man!
Warner hooks now, forward of square through the midwicket region and it'll take two off the misfield. And it's a no ball.
This really has been poor from the Proteas this evening.
Warner chops down outside off for no run, a late decision to cut.
He leaves the last at 147kph.
10th over - Marco Jansen
By Simon Smale
Full outside off, dug out by Labuschagne.
Now well down leg side and it's another brilliant take by Verreynne.
Jansen is a bit all over the place at the moment, but now he's back outside off and Marnus defends.
Inside edge there from Marnus as he looks to push the ball into the off side, the ball ending up at mid on. No run.
Wide down the leg side. South Africa have wasted do many deliveries with the new ball. This pitch didn't look like it was doing much for Australia's bowlers, except with the very new ball, so this is poor from their much-vaunted pace battery.
Marnus takes a couple off his pads to end the over.
9th over - Rabada vs Warner Part IV
By Simon Smale
Yorker, Warner fends away down the pitch and then practices a couple of shots. That was a no ball, apparently.
Warner defends the first legal delivery of the over up on his toes to cover. No run.
Shot! Warner with a push to cover and they'll run four! Well played those two! Quick running there.
Warner should take his time to get his breath here - "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO" he screams as he fends to the leg side.
"NO RUN!" Warner cries as he fends down the pitch.
Solid defence from Warner again.
Four leg byes! No, the umpire says no shot was offered (it wasn't) so despite the ball flying off the thigh pad to the fine leg rope, no runs scored.
8th over - bowling change, Marco Jansen
By Simon Smale
Still we wait for the Uitenhage express...
Warner, meanwhile, waits for Jansen, and drives him through the covers for two. Lovely shot from Warner.
Warner is on the attack here, he cuts the ball to point, so no run there.
Full outside off, Warner defends.
Quick single to cover, "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Warner says as they scampered through.
Scott Boland is padded up. But it looked like there were a couple overs with pads on too.
Wide down the leg side from Jansen there, Marnus won't even entertain the idea of playing at that.
Four! Clipped off his pads, a leg glance? No, off the pads, so four leg byes to the tally.
7th over - Two balls to come from Rabada to Labuschagne
By Simon Smale
Marnus is forward defending back down the ground, a little flourish of the bat to prove that it's Marnus, the call of "no raaaaan".
Oh wow, a real wide one to finish to over.
Out! Rabada strikes and Khawaja goes!
By Simon Smale
Khawaja fends at one outside off and it's taken easily by Verreynne.
Rabada has not been great in his three and a bit overs so far, but that was better - angling the ball across the lefty.
He departs for 1 off 11 balls and that might be the confidence boost that he and South Africa needs to make some inroads into the Australian lineup.
7th over - Rabada to Khawaja
By Simon Smale
Khawaja is still on 0 - not for long though, a single to cover.
Deep square leg comes in for Warner, who fends to the leg side and they'll sprint for two! Close is it! No, Warner dived but was comfortably home.
Rabada strays onto the hip of Warner, and he'll take a single to backward square leg.
6th over - Ngidi is going to have another
By Simon Smale
Better from Ngidi, good bounce and Warner fends to the off side to a ball that hits high on the bat.
He leaves outside off, the ball just pushed across Warner, who watched it from the hand of the bowler to the gloves of the wicketkeeper.
Warner cuts but hits it straight into the ground, no run to cover.
Well left from Warner outside off.
"No run!" Warner fending into the pitch there.
Nortje is warming up...
Warner cuts and set off for a run but he's sent back.
5th over - Rabada vs Warner Part III
By Simon Smale
Rabada pushes one across Warner for the first time and the Australian cannot time his drive. No run.
Warner fends to square leg and they run two.
"NO RUN!" shouts Warner as he pushes a 145kph delivery to cover.
Another fast ball, 144kph, fended to point this time for "NO RUN!".
Four! Short, Warner hooks and gets another boundary. This has been good from Warner, counter attacking the short ball and being watchful to the rest.
Three more for Warner! Lovely cross-bat shot that he cuts through the covers.
Nice shot and good signs for the opener!
4th over - Ngidi continues
By Simon Smale
He needs a better set of deliveries than last over, if he wants too many more this evening you'd think.
Wide and full outside off, Warner leaves it alone.
Warner has to defend that one, angling across but then coming back in to the left hander.
Chopped down by Warner, who will take a single to cover.
Khawaja now defends as Ngidi finds his line - perhaps a touch too straight to really threaten.
Khawaja drives on the bounce to the man at short mid off. No run.
Ngidi pushes across the face but Khawaja leaves it well alone.
3rd over - Rabada vs Warner Part II
By Simon Smale
Four! Warner is given another short ball and he hooks beautifully to the boundary.
What a grab from Verreynne! 143kph from Rabada, down leg side though and it was always moving away from the South African 'keeper.
Driven by Warner but straight to cover. Nice shot for nothing.
Warner dabs to midwicket, timed well, another fielder is there though so no run.
There was a bit of shape in there to Warner, and now he's having to defend up on his toes and Warner awkwardly fends away.
Clipped past the man at bat pad - no, through his legs in fact - and he'll take three runs to square leg.
He's looked barely threatened so far, Warner.
2nd over - Ngidi is next man up for South Africa
By Simon Smale
Kinda surprised Ngidi has got the new ball here - he was ineffective in Brisbane - only taking 1-35. I'd have been tempted to start with Nortje.
Three slips, gully, short leg, Ngidi sends the ball down outside off and Khawaja leaves it.
Khawaja has to fend that ball away to point, he got a bit crossy there in playing that ball to cover.
He tightens up the line but Khawaja is equal to it at the moment, defending straight back down the pitch.
Another maiden to start the innings - but there was zero jeopardy there.
1st over - Rabada to Warner
By Simon Smale
Warner hooks a wide bouncer down leg side but misses it!
You can't take your eyes off this!
Bouncer again, Warner this time ducks under it.
Another short ball, well left that time by Warner.
Down the leg side, brilliant take from Verreynne at full stretch.
Again down the leg side, not sure what Rabada is trying here - it's just wayward bowling at the moment. What's he setting up? If anything?
Nothing, all six balls down the leg side and Warner is unscathed from the first over he faces.
David Warner on his 100th Test
By Simon Smale
Huge moment for David Warner.
He'll take strike against the man Kagiso Rabada, who has got him out six times in their shared Test history.
He got him out twice in five balls in Brisbane...
Stumps will be 6pm AEDT
By Simon Smale
What time is stumps? And will Warner make it...?
- MikeR
As to the next part of your question, I genuinely don't know.
