The Australian middle-order fought back on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa to take the home side to 341-9 at stumps on the first day in Perth.
Michael Clarke (62), Andrew Symonds (57) and Brad Haddin (46) took rearguard action after the Proteas had restricted Australia to 15-3 within the first hour of play.
Within an hour of Ricky Ponting choosing to bat at the WACA on Wednesday, Makhaya Ntini removed Matthew Hayden (12) and the Australian skipper (zero) off consecutive deliveries in the third over. Aussies slumped further when Michael Hussey fell to Dale Steyn without scoring.
But a 147-run stand between Simon Katich (82) and Clarke took the home team out of a precarious situation.
However, another double blow in the second session saw Aussies on the backfoot once again as both set batsmen perished in a space of six balls.
Katich, who top scored for the Aussies, continued his good run from the Test series against India, plundering seven boundaries and one six in his 151-ball knock before Morne Morkel trapped hm leg-before.
Beleaguered all-rounder Symonds and wicketkeeper Haddin then revived the situation with a quickfire 88-run stand. However, the last hour of play saw the Proteas strike again as they got into a position of cleaning up the Australian innings. But the tail put up a gritty display with Brett Lee (29), Jason Krejza (19 not out) and Mitchell Johnson (18) streching the total.
For the visitors, Ntini took three wickets while Steyn, Morkel and spinner Paul Harris grabbed a couple of wickets each.
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