Mike Hussey has compiled a gallant 75 in Australia's 369 before South Africa fought back to reach 2-140 in the second Test in Durban.

Hussey admitted the tourists let things slip with some poor bowling before bad light ended play nine overs early.

South Africa had been 2-10 but Jacques Kallis was in full command with a stylish 72 not out in an unbeaten 130-run stand for the third wicket with opener AB De Villiers (48 not out).

"They played pretty well. There didn't seem to be too many alarming moments," Hussey said of the third-wicket pair.

"A couple of balls stayed low off Andrew Symonds.

"I think we probably just bowled a couple too many four-balls and they got away from us a little bit.

"Hopefully we can start fresh again tomorrow, a little bit of luck can go our way and we can get a couple of early wickets."

Australia's innings ended one ball after the drinks break midway through the post-lunch session when Hussey was out lbw for 75.

Hussey batted for 11 minutes short of four hours, ensuring Australia's tail wagged with the last three wickets adding 110 runs.

Brett Lee then continued his dominance over Graeme Smith, removing the South African skipper with the first ball of the innings, caught at third slip by Justin Langer.

Lee's joy was short-lived as he watched Ricky Ponting put down a waist-high chance two balls later off Herschelle Gibbs in an action-packed opening over.

Michael Kasprowicz bowled Gibbs for nine with a knee-high shooter in the fourth over.

Lee and Kasprowicz were unable to get a third breakthrough and Ponting turned to leg-spinner Shane Warne, all-rounder Andrew Symonds and Hussey without success, strangely ignoring last week's man-of-the-match Stuart Clark for a bowl with the lights turned on for the third session.

Paceman Clark finally came on for the 40th over but two balls later the umpires offered the bad light to the batsmen which they accepted and play ended.

Australia had resumed on 5-228 and added 83 in the morning session, losing the wickets of a stitched-up Symonds (13) and Adam Gilchrist (2).

Symonds was sporting four stitches in a heavily swollen upper lip after ducking into a bouncer from Makhaya Ntini (3-81) shortly before stumps Friday.

Tailender Shane Warne hit a quick 36 to add 56 for the eighth wicket with Hussey.

No.11 batsman Stuart Clark (13 not out) put on 42 for the last wicket with Hussey, who is averaging 73.50 in his eight Tests.

Hussey further enhanced his credentials as the master of batting with the tail, following his 107-run stand for the 10th wicket with Glenn McGrath to turn the match in the second Test against South Africa in Melbourne in December.

"Yes it was very rewarding once again," Hussey said.

"I think between the last three we got another hundred runs or so, so it was a good effort really because we had to work pretty hard throughout the whole innings for all our runs.

"To get that extra hundred, we thought we had a pretty good score."

Skipper Ricky Ponting scored 103, moving alongside Don Bradman on the list of Australian century-makers with 29 each.

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