Debutant Phillip Hughes played a number of streaky shots but still led Australia [Images] to 51 for one and a lead of 297 at stumps on the third day of the first Test against South Africa [Images] on Saturday.

• Scorecard: South Africa vs Australia

Bad light intervened 35 minutes after tea and ate up 31 overs of play putting an end to a day of Australian dominance.

The 20-year-old Hughes, who made a duck in the first innings, showed aggressive intent and survived a few anxious moments at the crease, to reach 36 not out with seven fours.

South Africa claimed the wicket of his fellow opener, Simon Katich [Images], caught behind for 10 off a fine delivery from Morne Morkel [Images], but could not make another telling breakthrough.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting [Images] was the other unbeaten batsman, with a single to his name.

Earlier, a top-class unbeaten century by AB de Villiers [Images] could not stop Australia taking a huge first-innings lead.

South Africa were bowled out for just 220 runs 50 minutes before tea to concede a lead of 246.

De Villiers, who resumed on his overnight score of 13, lasted to the end of the innings as he scored 104 not out in 285 minutes off 185 balls for his eighth century in his 50th Test.

Opener Neil McKenzie [Images] was the next highest scorer with 36 and only three other batsmen reached double figures.

Australia's left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson [Images] was the chief destroyer with top-class figures of four for 25 in 18.1 overs.

Ponting declined to enforce the follow-on and forecast that rain showers will be South Africa's best hope of making the game safe.

Johnson was well-supported by a fiery Peter Siddle [Images], who took three for 76 in 21 overs. The two pacemen found top gear as they reduced South Africa to 158 for eight at lunch.

DEFIANT DE VILLIERS

The 25-year-old De Villiers was the last specialist batsman and had scored a defiant, level-headed 63 not out.

He moved to his century in the company of last man Makhaya Ntini [Images], powering a pull off Ben Hilfenhaus [Images] through mid-wicket for his eighth four, to go with a six off spinner Marcus North.

Five balls later, Johnson blasted a delivery through Ntini to bowl him for a single and end the innings.

De Villiers and Dale Steyn [Images] had produced stirring resistance to add 52 for the ninth wicket but Steyn could not reproduce his heroics of the series-clinching Melbourne Test in December and Andrew McDonald had him caught at slip for 17.

Johnson struck twice in one over 45 minutes before lunch to derail the South African innings.

JP Duminy [Images], the 24-year-old playing his fourth Test but first at home, was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 17 as a Johnson short ball got big on him, and Haddin then claimed an edge three balls later from Mark Boucher [Images].

The South African wicketkeeper appealed against the decision but third umpire Asad Rauf found no evidence to change Billy Bowden's verdict and Boucher was out for a duck to leave South Africa in tatters on 138 for six.

De Villiers went to a three-hour half-century soon afterwards but, as the safety of lunch neared, South Africa lost two more quick wickets.

Morkel scored just two before he mis-hit a pull shot and presented an easy return catch to Siddle, while off-spinner North won an lbw decision against Paul Harris (1).

McKenzie, who was threatening an innings of major resistance, having occupied the crease for 171 minutes and 125 balls in scoring 36, saw his defiance end when Siddle trapped him leg-before with a delivery that nipped back into him.

McKenzie appealed his decision but was unsuccessful and, with Boucher using up South Africa's other referral, Harris could not get a second life even though the ball appeared to strike his toe on the full outside off stump.