The opening pair batted out the middle session to have the Proteas travelling along nicely in Adelaide at 117 without loss in reply to Australia's first innings 550 at tea.

At the interval, Smith was unbeaten on 57 with Petersen not out 47.

Smith had a huge let-off when Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade badly fumbled a stumping chance when the Proteas captain advanced down the wicket to Michael Clarke on 46 and his team were 86 for nought.

Australia's hopes of getting a first innings total around 600 or even an innings declaration evaporated when South Africa finally removed skipper Clarke early on the second morning.

In sharp contrast to their first-day battering of the Proteas bowling to amass 482 for five at almost six runs an over, the Australians lost their last five wickets for 68.

Clarke was finally out for the first time in the series on 230, some 20 minutes into the second day when he was bowled by Morne Morkel, who finished with five wickets for 146 off 30 overs.

The Australian skipper became the first batsman in the history of Test cricket to post four 200s in a calendar year.

It was a psychological breakthrough for South Africa with Clarke scoring 489 runs before they got him out after his unbeaten 259 in last week's first Brisbane Test. Clarke hit 40 boundaries and a six off 257 balls but Australian wickets soon began to tumble after his exit to a standing ovation.

It was only a feisty 42 off 35 balls from James Pattinson that got the Australian total to a healthy looking 550.

Wade was caught behind for six to give Morkel a fourth wicket as Australia edged past 500.

Rory Kleinveldt captured his first Test wicket but had to go through a nervy no-ball check before Peter Siddle was confirmed out for six, caught at slip by Graeme Smith, who finished with four catches for the innings.

Ben Hilfenhaus went quickly for a duck hooking to Kleinveldt at fine leg for Morkel's fifth wicket of the innings.

But Pattinson struck some lusty blows with two sixes off legspinner Imran Tahir and four fours to put on 46 runs for the last wicket with Nathan Lyon (7).