Cape Town, March 16:

Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark took 5-55 on debut as South Africa slumped to 205 all out on the opening day of the first of three Tests on Thursday.

Australia replied with 63 for one at stumps. Matthew Hayden was undefeated on 22, and captain Ricky Ponting on 20. The man out was Justin Langer, adjudged lbw to Andre Nel for 16.

South Africa owed its total to Ntini and Nel, as the fast-bowling pair put on 32 for the last wicket — the highest partnership of the innings. Nel was the last man out for 18, giving Brett Lee his third wicket and leaving Ntini undefeated on 17. South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat at the Newlands Stadium, and his players made a slow, unsteady start.

AB de Villiers was the first to go, bowled by Michael Kasprowicz for eight. Herschelle Gibbs did a small repair job with Smith, until the skipper became Clark’s first victim, caught behind for 19 as he fished outside the off stump. Two overs later, Clark struck again, removing South Africa’s best batsman, Jacques Kallis, caught at gully by Hayden for six.

Clark then produced a beautiful off-cutter to go past the edge of Gibbs’ bat and crash into his off stump, removing him for 18. His fourth wicket came when he had Mark Boucher caught by Adam Gilc-hrist for 16, and his fifth when he trapped Nicky Boje lbw for 31 — South Africa’s highest scorer.

Lee came back after a wicketless opening spell to remove Andrew Hall (24) after he had Ashwell Prince caught for a painstaking 17 off 67 balls in 105 minutes.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA — 1st Innings

G Smith c Gilchrist b Clark 19

A de Villiers b Kasprowicz 8

H Gibbs b Clark 18

J Kallis c Hayden b Clark 6

A Prince c Hayden b Lee 17

J Rudolph c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 10

M Boucher c Gilchrist b Clark 16

A Hall c Hayden b Lee 24

N Boje lbw b Clark 31

A Nel lbw b Lee 18

M Ntini not out 17

Extras: 21 (lb6, nb15)

Total: 205

FoW: 1-24, 2-42, 3-48, 4-61, 5-76, 6-104,

7-124, 8-148, 9-173

Australia bowling: Lee 14.5-2-37-3, Kasprowicz 13-0-44-2, Symonds 10-2-22-0, Clark 17-3-55-5, Warne 9-0-41-0

AUSTRALIA — 1st Innings

J Langer lbw b Nel 16

M Hayden not out 22

R Ponting not out 20

Extras: 5 (lb5)

Total: 63/1

FoW: 1-21

South Africa bowling: Ntini 9-1-30-0,

Nel 8-4-14-1, Hall 5-2-14-0, Boje 1-1-0-0