Australia were in trouble early on in at 38 for three in Johannesburg as Dale Steyn [ Images ] claimed two wickets and Morne Morkel [ Images ] took one in the opening session.

However, Ponting and Clarke's partnership of 113 steadied things. Then debutant Marcus North's composed 47 not out, and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin [ Images ], unbeaten on 37, added 72 for the sixth wicket before bad light, followed by rain, ended play early.

Ponting, who scored 101 and 99 in Melbourne [ Images ] and 0 and 53 in Sydney [ Images ] during the recent series in Australia, crunched 83, with 11 fours and a six, before he was dismissed by Makhaya Ntini [ Images ] after leaving a delivery that moved in, hit the top of his pad and went on to the stumps.

The Australian captain had earlier been dropped by opposite number Graeme Smith [ Images ] at first slip off Steyn on 40, and promptly hooked the next ball for six.

He also won a decision reviewed to the third umpire on 70 after the South Africans disagreed with umpire Billy Bowden's not out verdict for a caught behind appeal off Morkel.

Clarke also went before tea for 68, which included 10 fours, after a wide, full delivery from Steyn kept swinging away and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher [ Images ] gratefully accepted the catch.

Fast bowler Steyn finished the day with three for 82.

A fine new-ball spell by Steyn and a magnificent catch by Neil McKenzie [ Images ] in the morning had rocked Australia, who won the toss and chose to bat.

Debutant Phillip Hughes fell in the first over for a duck, edging an awful cut at a Steyn bouncer into the gloves of Boucher.

Fellow opener Simon Katich [ Images ] (3) survived some scares outside off stump before McKenzie terminated his 40-minute innings with a superb one-handed catch in the gully, diving full length to intercept a back foot drive off Steyn.

South Africa made another telling breakthrough 45 minutes before lunch when Morkel had Michael Hussey [ Images ] caught at second slip by Jacques Kallis [ Images ] for four.