Australia are using their bowlers in short and sharp spells. Although their ability to take wickets has been the polar opposite.

It will be interesting to see if there is any temptation to throw one of their wildcard bowlers into the mix. Cam Green, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw spring to mind.

Two fours in three balls for David Bedingham takes South Africa past the 200 mark.

He's really striving into his groove now with the hosts only one wicket down.

A bit more control on offer from Australia's batters. David Bedingham adding just a single to proceedings.

South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma is waiting in the wings but will be grateful for this particularly long rest at the start of an innings.

Former Australia batter Usman Khawaja has been speaking on X today following this tough start to the day for the tourists.

He wrote "Ackerball" followed by a laughing emoji while Marques Ackerman was going through his innings earlier on.

A pointed dig at his former teammates, perhaps?

The way in which South Africa have been scoring, a full day of batting could easily seem them put on 400+ before close.

Hoping to break that is Mitchell Starc, who is 0-59 from 10 overs so far.

Tidy stuff from Nathan Lyon as Aiden Markram and David Bedingham muster a single each.

That brings up the afternoon drinks break.

South Africa have not been dealing in too many boundaries since Marques Ackerman's dismissal.

But they are still scoring and both Aiden Markram and David Bedingham are playing with control and calm.

The hosts are closing in on 200 as Nathan Lyon continues his work.

South Africa's rate of scoring has dropped since lunch, but they are still going at just shy of five an over in this innings.

The hosts have scored nicely and continued to build and Australia have not done enough with the ball to give them much to worry about.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma will be given a luxury when he comes into bat next at some point today.

At Gqeberha, he went out to the middle at 12-2 prior to producing his best ever Test knock of 179.

In the first Test, was in at 84-2 and 73-2, so he's going to get the best part of 100 runs on top of that as a bare minimum.

Five singles and start the over before Mitchell Starc produces a no ball.

The extra delivery is punished for four by David Bedingham, a 10-run over for the hosts.

David Bedingham has not been as free-scoring as Marques Ackerman was, but his two scoring shots have been excellent.

His latest four is a straight punch past the feet of Josh Hazlewood, running away to the rope.

Image source, Getty Images

Just one more single added to the total.

A penny for the thoughts of Marques Ackerman, who probably feels he's missed out on a Test century. Especially given the nature of his dismissal.

Image source, Getty Images

Aiden Markram follows up David Bedingham's effort with a driven off-side four of his own.

He didn't really time that as well as he would have hoped, but cashes in all the same off Mitchell Starc's delivery.

David Bedingham breaks a run of 12 dot balls with an excellent punched drive through extra cover.

It gets him off the mark and adds four to the total.

Image source, Getty Images

A tidy maiden from Pat Cummins and eight dots since that wicket - Australia are wresting back some momentum.

Josh Hazlewood will return in place of wicket-taker Nathan Lyon.

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David Bedingham is the new man in the middle with Aiden Markram.

That was the second-highest opening partnership against Australia when they have sent a team in to bat.

The umpires review what seemed to be a rather chance appeal for a stumping against Bedingham.

He looked well in his crease and the replays support that, much to Marnus Labuschagne's dismay.

Six from Pat Cummins' latest over as Australia continue to toil for a wicket.

Nathan Lyon remains alongside his captain in the attack.

Four more from Marques Ackerman takes him to 95.

It was short and wide and Pat Cummins and a wild hack from Ackerman, who gets the finest of nicks on the ball to send it trickling to the leg side boundary.

In the 30th over of the day, South Africa reach an opening partnership that passes 150.

The last time South Africa did that was nine years ago against Bangladesh. Aiden Markram was also involved, batting alongside Dean Elgar.