Port Elizabeth: Wayne Parnell took two wickets in his first three balls in test cricket in four years to have Australia struggling at 112-4 in response to South Africa's 423 on Friday.
Playing his fourth test and first on his home ground, Parnell had Alex Doolan caught by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers with his first delivery and Shaun Marsh caught by De Villiers with his third to start a breathless final part of the second day of the second test.
That suddenly swung the match in South Africa's favor after it made 423 on a St. George's Park pitch that appeared to offer nothing for fast bowlers.
Parnell and Vernon Philander suggested otherwise, with Philander also removing Chris Rogers early and Australia captain Michael Clarke for 19 just before the close. David Warner was 65 not out and survived a dropped catch, as did nightwatchman Nathan Lyon as edges flew at the end of the day.
Australia was ultimately 311 runs behind with six wickets in hand at stumps and under pressure for the first time since the first session of the series at Centurion.
Lyon was sent in to see out the final few overs after Clarke mistimed a drive straight to the covers, and the spin bowler was subjected to a testing short-ball burst by Morne Morkel, the kind that Australia and left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson unleashed to dominate top-ranked South Africa in the first test.
