Johannesburg - Bad light ended play on day three of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at Bidvest Wanderers. South Africa's overall lead is 199. Amla 89 De Villiers 70. SA 229/3.

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Earlier Unbeaten half-centuries by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers pushed South Africa 161 runs ahead of Australia at tea on day three of the second Test at Wanderers on Saturday.

Amla (69 not out) and De Villiers (54 not out) ground out an unbroken 101-run partnership to take South Africa to 191-3 in its second innings, defying Australia throughout the session after teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins struck twice to have the home team 90-3 in the morning.

Amla hit nine fours in a cautious 157-ball innings, easing the pressure following the departures of Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis.

De Villiers collected nine boundaries in his 54 from 89, shrugging off an early blow on the toe from a Cummins delivery to help put South Africa in command of the match and the series.

South Africa leads the two-Test contest 1-0.

Cummins (2-46) struck early, with the debutante dismissing Rudolph in the eighth over and forcing out Kallis with a fierce delivery. In between, Graeme Smith fell to offspinner Nathan Lyon as Australia imposed itself in the morning session.

But Amla and De Villiers responded to wrestle back control for the Proteas. The pair added 97 for no wicket after lunch, holding off Cummins, Lyon (1-35) and the wicketless pair of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.

The 18-year-old Cummins forced Rudolph to top edge a quick, short delivery and the left-hander was caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 24. Graeme Smith fell for 36 to a loose cut shot which went straight to Phillip Hughes at backward point as Australia made early inroads.

Cummins took the crucial wicket of Kallis (2) two overs before lunch when his fast outswinger beat South Africa's veteran No 4 and an edge flew to captain Michael Clarke in the slips.

Cummins, Australia's second youngest Test debutante ever, had impressive figures of 2-27 off nine overs in the first session, repaying Australia's move to give him his first cap in this match as the tourists try to save their 41-year unbeaten Test series record in South Africa.

But Amla and De Villiers' solid partnership in the afternoon moved South Africa toward a significant - and possibly series-clinching - lead.

Smith and Rudolph had combined for a 40-run opening stand with Rudolph, in particular, eager to score quickly.

Playing in his second Test since returning from a five-year sabbatical from international cricket, Rudolph hit five fours for his 24 off 23 balls before trying to force a hook shot off Cummins. Haddin held on to a high, swirling catch behind the stumps.

Smith had six fours but his misplaced shot left South Africa 75-2.

Kallis didn't have chance to settle before Cummins struck again.

Having become the fourth player and first South African to pass 12 000 Test runs on Thursday, Kallis was undone by pace and swing from Cummins to leave South Africa in trouble early.