Kallis fires after Hussey sets up Australia

South Africa 140 for 2 (Kallis 72*, de Villiers 48*) trail Australia 369 (Ponting 103, Hussey 75) by 229 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

Jacques Kallis staged a fine fightback with a brutal half-century to ensure South Africa recovered from a horrible opening after Michael Hussey calmly lifted Australia to a convincing total on the second day at Durban. Ignoring the trouble of 10 for 2, Kallis launched the counter-attack as he lit up a murky afternoon and rushed his side towards their 140 for 2 when bad light ended play 8.4 overs early.

Australia's pre-tea charge was reversed in the abbreviated final session as Kallis, who is still suffering from an elbow problem, aggressively reduced the deficit with 72 - his fifty came from 49 balls with ten fours and included a fortunate escape to an edge from a Brett Lee no-ball. Fast bowling is the preferred option on this pitch but Kallis joined Hussey in upsetting the trend with fine sweeping off Shane Warne and crunching punches against the fast men. Australia were also held back by the light that forced the pace bowlers into the field and Warne and Andrew Symonds to roll 22 overs.

AB de Villiers, who was lucky to survive a Lee lbw appeal on 17, kept Kallis company in a 130-run partnership and they went through the first half of the final session scoring freely, and didn't lose a wicket. Most importantly, they repelled Lee, who was fast, dangerous and expensive with 1 for 50 from nine eventful overs.

Lee's first ball induced a Graeme Smith mistake and when Herschelle Gibbs fell to his third bowled dismissal of the series - his seventh in the past five Tests - Australia sensed a quick kill. Although the ball from Kasprowicz stayed slightly low, Gibbs's defensive problem is created by his willingness to leap when considering back-foot options, and the damage to his psyche must be more severe than the mangling of the stumps.

The early reply was as disappointing as South Africa's finish to the first innings. Hussey produced another superb performance with the tail as he cajoled 110 runs from the last three wickets in a period of play that could be crucial to the result. Australia began the day at 228 for 5, but with Symonds and Adam Gilchrist slipping to Andre Nel by 259 they could have been satisfied with 300 on a surface that was impossible to master until Kallis dominated.

South Africa deserved to be confident, but Hussey determined to push further forward and the lower order ran with him to collect an impressive total. Warne arrived in a burst of six fours and a swept six off Nicky Boje to create the momentum for a final surge and the pair shared an important stand of 56.

Warne chipped to cover on 36 and Kasprowicz (7) was forced into an edge, but Hussey wasn't done and sprinted to the finish with a run-a-ball compilation of 42 with Stuart Clark that increased the hosts' frustration. Starting carefully, Hussey absorbed the danger of another incredibly hard first session - he and Symonds scored only 25 in the first hour - and once he befriended the conditions he felt more comfortable following through instead of checking his shots. An early miscued pull just cleared Shaun Pollock at fine leg, but the rest of his ten boundaries were considered and he was particularly fierce with his pulling.

His tempo increased with Clark's arrival and he unveiled the one-day mode that has been so damaging through his young international career. A four was lofted down the ground off Pollock and then he mixed pulling with powerful cover drives after passing a deserved half-century.

Nel bowled with spark to collect 3 for 83 and continued Gilchrist's poor recent run by forcing a catch dropped by Ashwell Prince on 0 and creating an edge from his unsure bat two runs later. Kasprowicz was also beaten by Nel before Kallis finished off the innings by winning an lbw decision when Hussey offered no shot in the return from a drinks break.

The verdict carried doubt but there was no confusion over Hussey's role. Australia have waited a long time to appreciate him, but he has quickly become an invaluable part of the machine. Kallis has been crucial to South Africa's chances for a long time and remains central to their prospects of levelling the series.