Centuries from AB de Villiers and JP Duminy lifted South Africa to a total of 423 on day two of the second Test.

Australia’s vaunted attack were forced to toil in a fashion they hadn’t experienced since the Ashes series in England, with Michael Clarke putting his pace trio on ice after Mitchell Johnson bowled the 133rd over.

The visitors bowled 150.5 overs on a placid Port Elizabeth pitch, their longest stint in the field since sending down 154.1 overs against India at Hyderabad in March 2013.

The Proteas were in complete control, adding 209 runs to the overnight score before Australia finally wrapped things up with a run-out of Morne Morkel just after tea.

But the hosts’ sluggish run-rate on Thursday and refusal to chase quick runs on day two will make it hard for South Africa skipper Graeme Smith to force a result, unless Australia prove inept with the willow.

De Villiers breezed to a century in the opening session after South Africa saw off the second new ball, taken when play resumed 19 minutes early.

Duminy continued the Proteas’ stranglehold, bringing up his third Test ton following the dismissal of de Villiers shortly after lunch.

Nathan Lyon grabbed the key scalps of de Villiers (116) and Duminy (123) to finish with figures of 5-130 from 46 overs.

The marathon effort was Lyon’s fifth Test five-wicket haul.

Lyon was the pick of the seven bowlers Clarke tried, including himself.

The skipper even enjoyed some success, dismissing Vernon Philander caught and bowled for 6 before tea to snaffled his first Test wicket since knocking over Jacques Kallis at Adelaide Oval in 2012.