Andrew Symonds plundered 72 from 54 balls and delivered another crucial bowling burst yesterday as Australia moved within four wickets of victory over South Africa.
On the brink of omission in the second test, Symonds followed his career-best bowling haul in the first innings with a cavalier knock in a 124-run stand with Matt Hayden (137) before Australia declared at 321-7.
He flayed six sixes -- a test record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground -- and five fours in a partnership that rapidly turned the result in Australia's favor.
With South Africa needing to score 366 to win or to survive 132 overs for a draw, Symonds took wickets in his second and third overs to again gut the tourists' middle order.
South Africa limped to 99 for six at stumps on day four, with Symonds returning 2-6 in four overs and Shane Warne taking 3-43.
South Africa was still 266 runs behind with 90 overs remaining.
Shaun Pollock (13) and No. 5 Ashwell Prince (16) are the last of the recognized batsmen.
South Africa coach Mickey Arthurs said Australia took the initiative with some attacking batting and then compounded it with some valuable wickets.
"We're pretty down about it. It has been a titanic struggle," he said. "We have sort of knocked them but haven't been able to get them down and they've come back harder at us.
"When you play under that sort of ... continual pressure for eight days, something has to give. But the guys are upbeat -- it's not over yet."
Hayden posted his fifth hundred in seven tests before his dismissal sparked a collapse. Ricky Ponting declared the innings closed after Australia lost three wickets in four balls from Jacques Kallis (3-58). Hayden batted for six hours and faced 244 balls in his 25th test hundred, lifting his tempo in a 66-minute partnership with Symonds, who went in with the total at 193-4.
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