Australia take command of Second Test

Australia have taken complete control of the Boxing Day Test match with a superb bowling display on day three against South Africa in Melbourne today.

The Aussies are 2 for 110 at stumps, holding a lead of 154 going into day four after earlier bowling the Proteas out for a meager 311.

Herschelle Gibbs was the star of the day for South Africa, making a gritty 94 before being knocked over by Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Symonds and Brett Lee starred with the ball for Australia, Lee taking three wickets in a spell of fast and deadly accurate bowling to bamboozle the South African batsmen and give Australia the ascendancy.

Lee knocked over Jacques Kallis (23) with a brilliant yorker early in the day, and Shane Warne struck just moments later, dismissing Ashwell Prince (6) after a sharp reflex catch from skipper Ricky Ponting at silly point.

Lee struck again before lunch, removing Jacques Rudolph (13) and sending the Proteas to lunch in trouble at 5/226.

Symonds then removed Mark Boucher (23), Gibbs, and Shaun Pollock (9) in quick succession to put the South Africans right on the back foot at 8/281. Warne and Stuart MacGill both took wickets just before tea.

Australia lost Phil Jacques to Andre Nel for 28, and Ponting lbw to Pollock for 11 in the final session, and will take a 154-run lead into day four with eight wickets in hand. Matthew Hayden is unbeaten on 45, with local hero Brad Hodge not out on 17 and will no doubt be looking forward to batting on his 31st birthday.

A declaration seems likely at some stage tomorrow afternoon.

Play resumes tomorrow morning at 10:30am (AEDT).

Full scorecard available here.

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