Cape Town, March 17:

Australian bowlers Brett Lee and Shane Warne plunged South Africa into deep trouble on the second day of the first Test at Newlands on Friday.

South Africa were 70/3 at the close, still 33 behind Australia’s first innings total of 308. Kallis reached 31 not out, while Prince was unbeaten on 14.

Lee struck twice within three balls in his third over as South Africa set out to erase a 103-run first innings deficit. Then leg-spinner Warne had captain Graeme Smith leg before wicket with his third delivery.

South Africa’s collapse came at the end of a day when their bowlers staged a fightback after it had seemed Australia would take a big lead. Matthew Hayden (94) and captain Ricky Ponting (74) put Australia in command with a second wicket stand of 154 but Ponting’s dismissal just before lunch started a slide in which they lost nine wickets for 133 runs. Ponting fell when he drove Jacques Kallis to Andrew Hall at short cover after facing 112 balls and hitting eight fours and a six.

Hayden was on course for a century until he top-edged a pull against Makhaya Ntini. He had faced 173 balls and hit 14 fours and a six.

Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist added 36 in just 4.4 overs before Gilchrist slashed at Kallis and was caught by Smith at first slip. Symonds, who hit two sixes in an over off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, raced to 55 off 47 balls, with three fours and four sixes.

Jacques Kallis, who did not bowl until the 41st over, took 3-51, while Ntini, Andre Nel and Boje took two wickets each.