A 126-run opening stand has given Australia hope of denying South Africa a series-levelling win in the second Test.
At tea on day four in Port Elizabeth, the visitors were 1-141 following Graeme Smith’s declaration approximately halfway through the morning session.
Smith declared at 5-270 early on Sunday to set the opposition a target of 448 for a historically impossible victory.
In response, Chris Rogers (69 not out) and David Warner (66) started fluently and put on their third-highest partnership.
Warner was particularly brutal against Morne Morkel, thumping four consecutive boundaries off the beanpole who has figures of 0-40 from six overs.
On 36, Warner was dropped for the fifth time this series when JP Duminy crashed into Rogers at the non-striker’s end and spilled a catch off his own bowling.
Duminy made amends when he trapped Warner lbw in the 30th over, with the batsman’s review showing ‘umpire’s call’ on HawkEye.
Smith is yet to use either of his two reviews, and will be cursing that he didn’t do so in the final over before tea.
Rogers flashed at a wide ball from Dale Steyn, but Kumar Dharmasena turned down a confident caught-behind appeal.
Replays showed a healthy edge and the decision would have been overturned had Smith challenged.
Alex Doolan dug in well, scoring one from 23 balls.
Rogers started the tour with scores of 4, 1 and 5, but arguably puts a higher price on his wicket than any of his teammates and looms as Australia’s most likely saviour if they believe in miracles.
The visitors are chasing well in excess of the 273 scored by South Africa in 1962, the highest fourth-innings total recorded at St George’s Park.
They would also need to set a new world record for a successful fourth-innings Test chase, bettering the 418 West Indies chased down in 2003.
Australia were skittled for 246 in 57 overs on Saturday.
But if the visitors show more mettle in the second dig and make it to a fifth day, they may receive some assistance.
Wayne Parnell’s groin injury means Smith is a bowler down and Robin Peterson’s omission leaves him without a frontline spinner.
Heavy rain is expected to lash the ground from morning until 2pm local time on day five.
South Africa are due to bowl 34 more overs on Sunday.