David Warner and Steve Smith hit half-centuries but Australia were unable to dominate South Africa's bowling attack on the first day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Thursday.
Australia, who won the toss and batted on an easy-paced pitch, were 225-5 when bad light ended play four overs before the second new ball was due. With no assistance for the bowlers from a slow surface, South Africa bowled with discipline to keep the batsmen in check.
Apart from a bright third-wicket partnership of 56 off 92 balls between Warner (51) and Smith (56), it was largely attritional cricket between the second and third-ranked teams in Test cricket.
Vernon Philander bowled with excellent control to take 2-36, while left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took 2-69. It was an indication of the slowness of the pitch that Maharaj bowled 24 of the 76 overs sent down in the day.
"Kingsmead is one of those wickets where if you can stop the scoring something will happen," said Maharaj.
"It’s even stevens," he added. "We have got the Australians five wickets down but they have two 'in' batsmen at the crease."
Smith made his fifth consecutive score of 50 or more as he continued the form he showed in the Ashes series against England in which he scored 687 runs at an average of 137.40. The Australia captain gave a half-chance on 47 when AB de Villiers at second slip could not hold a sharp, low catch to his left off Philander. He faced 114 balls and hit 11 fours in his innings.
He had made 24 off 44 balls in his partnership with Warner, who was caught at second slip off the last ball before lunch, but was restricted after the interval as the South Africa bowlers worked hard to force him to play on the off side instead of his favoured leg side.
Smith showed some signs of frustration before he cut a ball from Maharaj which bounced off wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock's gloves to De Villiers at slip.
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Maharaj struck again when he switched ends after tea and with his fourth ball of a new spell had Shaun Marsh caught at slip for a patient 40. Marsh had a let-off on 19 when a yorker from Kagiso Rabada struck him low down and would have hit his leg stump, according to television replays. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena gave him not out.
South Africa had used up both of their reviews – also involving leg before wicket decisions by Dharmasena – and could not challenge.
South African hopes of pressing home their advantage were foiled by Mitchell Marsh and Tim Paine, who added an unbeaten 48 before the umpires took the players off the field.
"If we can get above 300 it will be great," Warner said, conceding that Australia had probably lost two wickets too many on a pitch he described as two-paced.
"Come day three, day four it is probably going to err on the low side and spin will definitely play a role."
The home side claimed two early wickets, having Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja caught behind, but Warner and Smith batted brightly before Philander came back into the attack just prior to lunch and had Warner caught by De Villiers at second slip.
Warner faced 79 balls and hit six fours.
