Bad light stopped play on day three of the first Test at Kingsmead as South Africa pegged Australia back to 213-9.
That means the visitors lead by 402 runs, and Faf du Plessis and his men will be hoping to pick up the remaining wicket quickly on Sunday morning – that’s provided Steve Smith doesn’t choose to spare his bowlers by declaring.
Morne Morkel was the pick of the South African bowlers in the third and final session as he picked up three scalps and edged closer to the 300-wicket mark.
READ MORE: Proteas show some fight at Kingsmead
The final session began when Pat Cummins joined Shaun Marsh in the middle with the Australians on 175-6.
Morkel eventually broke his duck for the Test when he picked up his 295th wicket as Marsh got a thick outside edge to AB de Villiers at second slip.
Morkel picked up his second of the day when he had Mitchell Starc caught by Dean Elgar in the covers for just seven as the Australian lead started to creep closer to 400.
With the light in Durban starting to fade, the Proteas opener was back in the dressing room, having his fingers looked at after taking the catch.
De Villiers, who had taken five catches throughout the Test, put one down off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada to let Nathan Lyon off the hook.
Lyon was eventually out when he edged Morkel to Amla at first slip for two.
Josh Hazlewood joined Cummins in the middle, but they were soon back indoors as the umpires stopped play with Australia holding a significant lead of 402.
Australia (1st innings) 351: Mitchell Marsh 96, Steve Smith 56; Keshav Maharaj 5-123, Vernon Philander 2-59
South Africa (1st innings) 162: AB de Villiers 71, Aiden Markram 32; Mitchell Starc 5-34, Nathan Lyon 3-50
Australia (2nd innings) 213-9: Cameron Bancroft 53, Steve Smith 38, Keshav Maharaj 3-93, Morne Morkel 3-42
Australia lead by 402 runs
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
