AUS v SA 1st Test: Elgar and Duminy bat South Africa back into the test

Perth: South Africa batted through Saturday's morning session without loss to reach 183-2 in its second innings at lunch on day three of the first test against Australia, taking the upper hand over the hosts at the WACA Ground.

Resuming the day at 104-2, Dean Elgar (69 not out) and Jean-Paul Duminy (74 not out), were untroubled as Australia's bowlers toiled in the heat.

The temperature reached 34 degrees in the first session and was forecast to increase to 37 later Saturday.

Lanky Mitchell Starc bowled a couple of toe-crunching yorkers but the Proteas batsmen were equal to the task and extended their third-wicket partnership to 138 runs.

Duminy began the day with two fours in the space of three balls off Starc — a straight drive followed by his trademark cover drive — and dominated the partnership.

The momentum in the test has swung sharply in the course of a day.

In Friday's morning session, Australia's opening pair was in the midst of a 158-run stand and Australia seemed certain to far surpass South Africa's first innings of 242.

South Africa struck back and conceded only a two-run deficit on first innings despite losing pace spearhead Dale Steyn to a series-ending shoulder injury.