South Africa ground their way to a strong position at lunch on the second day of the third Test on Friday, reaching 148 for one wicket in reply to Australia's 209 in their first innings.Ashwell Prince, in his new role as opening batsman, was watchful in the first hour, adding just eight runs to his overnight score of 37, but later in the day's first session he picked up a few boundaries. Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson came in for some punishment as the left-handed batsman drove, pulled and hooked him to the fence.At lunch Prince was on 70, off 114 balls, and had added 83 for the second wicket with Hashim Amla, who scored 44 off 76 balls. The boundary tally for Prince was eight fours and a six, while Amla hit eight fours.The only wicket to fall in the morning session was that of debutant opener Imraan Khan, going to a one-handed return catch to Peter Siddle. Khan's 20 runs took him 71 minutes, a stretch that included one four.
Siddle was the best of the Australian bowlers, going for 15 runs in 12 overs.Although it is still early in the Proteas' innings, South Africa have already managed to group significant partnerships together, rather than follow Australia's example in losing wickets in quick succession
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