Cricket: Australia in command

MELBOURNE - Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden put Australia in control of the second test with a 154-run lead over South Africa on the third day on Wednesday.

Hayden was in sight of his 23rd test half century on 45 not out to guide the home side to 110 for two at the close after Symonds took a career best three for 50 to help dismiss South Africa for 311. Brad Hodge, on 17, was the other not out batsman.

"It's a tricky game and to be able to contribute in an important session like that felt good," said Symonds, who has been under pressure to hold on to the all rounder's spot in the side after a poor run of form with the bat.

"I just felt it was an important time of the game and to be contributing at that stage of the game would have made me feel good anyway, even if I had been scoring runs, so it was a great relief as well," Symonds told reporters.

Herschelle Gibbs top-scored for South Africa with 94 and A.B. de Villiers made 61.

Debutant opener Phil Jaques and captain Ricky Ponting were the only Australian wickets to fall. Jaques was lbw to Andre Nel for 28 and Ponting lbw to Shaun Pollock for 11.

With the pitch offering variable bounce and considerable turn, the home side will hope to bat for most of Thursday before using leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill to bowl South Africa out on the fifth day.

South Africa batted out the entire final day to secure a draw in the first test in Perth.

After resuming on 169 for two, the tourists scored just 57 runs in the first session with a hostile Brett Lee capturing two of the three wickets to fall when he bowled Jacques Kallis for 23 and Jacques Rudolph for 13.

Ashwell Prince was the third man out in the first session when he was caught at silly-point by Ponting off Warne for six.

South Africa continued their watchful approach after lunch before Symonds took three wickets for six runs in a devastating 19-ball spell.

Mark Boucher was adjudged leg before for 23, although television replays suggested the ball was going over the stumps, to leave South Africa 260 for six.

Symonds then bowled Gibbs, who missed a delivery that nipped back from outside off stump to fall six runs short of his 15th test century.

"It's disappointing, obviously," Gibbs said. "But I was trying to keep my end up as long as I could and at the same time play my natural game, which didn't make it too easy on me.

"I was disappointed when I didn't go on and make a bigger score. But it was nice to be in the middle for quite a long time."

Symonds then had Pollock trapped in front for nine, Warne bowled Nicky Boje for 12 and MacGill had Andre Nel caught by Mike Hussey in the covers for 14 to end the innings.

- REUTERS