Australian batsman Steve Waugh saved Australia from collapse in the first day of the first Test against South Africa.

Waugh helped haul the score from 77-4 to 206-4 on the first day of the match in Melbourne.

In the opening two sessions Australia managed just 92 runs.

But a Waugh and Ricky Ponting fifth wicket partnership rattled the score on to 129 - the century coming after just two hours and six minutes.

At lunch, South Africa had appeared to be in the driving seat, having taken three prized wickets - opener Matthew Elliott, captain Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh for a duck.

In the afternoon session Greg Blewett was stumped after managing 26 runs in 157 minutes.

South African bowler Pat Symcox celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Greg Blewett

As South Africa appeared to be taking control the Waugh-Ponting partnership swung into action.

The South Africans thought they had finally ended Waugh's innings when he edged to Richardson with three overs of the day left, only for Donald to be called for a no-ball.

Waugh was also dropped by Gary Kirsten at point off Shaun Pollock on the third-last ball of the day.

The scoreboard

Australia first innings

M.Elliott c Richardson b Klusener 6
M.Taylor c Kirsten b McMillan 20
G.Blewett st Richardson b Symcox 26
M.Waugh c Richardson b Donald 0
S.Waugh not out 87
R.Ponting not out 56
Extras (nb-5 lb-5 b-1) 11

Total (for four wickets, 90 overs) 206

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-42, 3-44, 4-77.

To bat: Ian Healy, Paul Reiffel, Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath.

Bowling: Donald 17-5-35-1 (nb-2)

Pollock 21-5-56-0 (nb-1)

Klusener 15-3-28-1 (nb-2)

McMillan 10-3-19-1, Kallis 4-2-5-0

Symcox 19-3-46-1, Cronje 4-2-11-0

South Africa - Gary Kirsten, Adam Bacher, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Brian McMillan, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Dave Richardson, Pat Symcox, Allan Donald.
 

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