It's raining wickets at Sahara Park in Newlands as South Africa have bowled out Australia for 47 runs and set themselves a victory target of 236 runs to win.
Australia at one point looked like they would fall short of the lowest-ever Test total, held by New Zealand when they managed 26 against England in Auckland in 1954-55.
They only avoided that unenviable record with their last pair at the crease, when Peter Siddle edged Vernon Philander to the third man rope.
Last man Nathan Lyon top-scored with 14, after putting on 26 for the last wicket with Siddle, while debutant Vernon Philander took five for 15 for the Proteas.
It continued an enthralling second day's play in which 22 wickets had already fallen with 29 overs still remaining before stumps.
Remarkably, despite their capitulation Australia are still well-placed to win the Test after they dismissed South Africa for 96 earlier in the day.
The tourists therefore held a lead of 235, thanks mainly to skipper Michael Clarke's 151 - an innings that has been made to look remarkable by today's events.
With plenty of time left before stumps the 123-year-old record for the most wickets in a day was also within sight.
That mark stands at 27 in a match between Australia and England at Lord's way back in 1888.
Australia had begun their second innings looking to build a match-wining lead after Shane Watson's five-wicket haul dismissed the Proteas for their lowest score against the Antipodeans since 1932.
Their efforts immediately unravelled as they were 13 for three before tea.
Watson was trapped lbw by Dale Steyn from the third ball of the innings before Ricky Ponting went the same way despite reviewing his call to become Philander's first wicket.
Phil Hughes then departed from the final ball before tea, caught at third slip, but the Australian collapse really took hold after the break.
Michael Hussey fell first ball after the interval, slashing Morkel to gully, before Philander claimed the crucial wicket of Clarke to yet another reviewed lbw decision.
The wickets continued to tumble, with the situation clearly getting to Brad Haddin when he edged behind after advancing down the wicket, as Australia slumped to 21 for nine.
At that point the lowest-ever score looked likely but Siddle and Lyon saved some of their side's blushes before the spinner was last man out caught by AB de Villiers off Steyn.
They only avoided that unenviable record with their last pair at the crease, when Peter Siddle edged Vernon Philander to the third man rope.
Last man Nathan Lyon top-scored with 14, after putting on 26 for the last wicket with Siddle, while debutant Vernon Philander took five for 15 for the Proteas.
It continued an enthralling second day's play in which 22 wickets had already fallen with 29 overs still remaining before stumps.
Remarkably, despite their capitulation Australia are still well-placed to win the Test after they dismissed South Africa for 96 earlier in the day.
The tourists therefore held a lead of 235, thanks mainly to skipper Michael Clarke's 151 - an innings that has been made to look remarkable by today's events.
With plenty of time left before stumps the 123-year-old record for the most wickets in a day was also within sight.
That mark stands at 27 in a match between Australia and England at Lord's way back in 1888.
Australia had begun their second innings looking to build a match-wining lead after Shane Watson's five-wicket haul dismissed the Proteas for their lowest score against the Antipodeans since 1932.
Their efforts immediately unravelled as they were 13 for three before tea.
Watson was trapped lbw by Dale Steyn from the third ball of the innings before Ricky Ponting went the same way despite reviewing his call to become Philander's first wicket.
Phil Hughes then departed from the final ball before tea, caught at third slip, but the Australian collapse really took hold after the break.
Michael Hussey fell first ball after the interval, slashing Morkel to gully, before Philander claimed the crucial wicket of Clarke to yet another reviewed lbw decision.
The wickets continued to tumble, with the situation clearly getting to Brad Haddin when he edged behind after advancing down the wicket, as Australia slumped to 21 for nine.
At that point the lowest-ever score looked likely but Siddle and Lyon saved some of their side's blushes before the spinner was last man out caught by AB de Villiers off Steyn.
South Africa skittled out for 96
Earlier, Shane Watson produced a devastating spell to help bowl South Africa out for their lowest Test score against Australia since 1932.
Watson claimed five wickets in a stunning 21-ball spell after lunch on the second day as South Africa collapsed to be all out for 96 in Cape Town.
The Proteas had made a solid start, reaching 49 for one at lunch, but their batting simply fell apart in the face of Watson's swing and seam movement as they lost nine for 47 after the break.
In the end they were thankful just to pass the follow-on, after Michael Clarke's superb 151 had helped Australia reach 284 this morning, as last-pair Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir got them across the line.
Watson, who was at one point on a hat-trick, finished with five for 17 while Ryan Harris claimed four for 33.
Harris had claimed the only wicket before the break when he bowled Jacques Rudolph, playing his first Test in just over five years, with a ball that seamed between bat and pad.
Skipper Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla had looked comfortable thereafter but the carnage began when Clarke brought Watson on immediately after lunch.
South Africa had not added to their interval score when Watson struck twice, both times successfully using the TV review, to have Amla lbw while the cameras showed Jacques Kallis had edged a pull to Ricky Ponting at second slip.
Watson then struck twice more in two balls when Smith unluckily dragged on, after making 37, before Ashwell Prince was caught plumb in front to a yorker.
Australia's use of the TV review was proving vital as they sent two more appeals upstairs and were rewarded when AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher - to hand Watson his five-for - were both lbw with the score on 77.
South Africa were now struggling just to avoid the follow on and Vernon Philander edged Harris to Ponting at third slip before Peter Siddle ran out Morne Morkel with a direct hit.
That left it up to last pair Steyn and Tahir to get their side across the follow-on mark - a job they did in a 13-run stand - before Harris bowled Tahir.
Earlier, Clarke's brilliant innings was finally ended for 151 as Australia's tail added vital runs this morning.
South Africa took an hour and 20 minutes to claim Australia's final two wickets, during which time the visitors added 70 runs.
Morkel claimed both wickets, although he had to wait over an hour for the initial breakthrough as Clarke and Siddle built a 59-run stand.
Their combination was eventually broken when Siddle (20) offered a leading edge to De Villiers at cover.
Clarke then hit a pair of straight boundaries off Morkel to bring up his 150, and add further gloss to one of the finest innings of his career, but later in the over he was clean bowled trying to find the ropes again.
The Proteas had made a solid start, reaching 49 for one at lunch, but their batting simply fell apart in the face of Watson's swing and seam movement as they lost nine for 47 after the break.
In the end they were thankful just to pass the follow-on, after Michael Clarke's superb 151 had helped Australia reach 284 this morning, as last-pair Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir got them across the line.
Watson, who was at one point on a hat-trick, finished with five for 17 while Ryan Harris claimed four for 33.
Harris had claimed the only wicket before the break when he bowled Jacques Rudolph, playing his first Test in just over five years, with a ball that seamed between bat and pad.
Skipper Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla had looked comfortable thereafter but the carnage began when Clarke brought Watson on immediately after lunch.
South Africa had not added to their interval score when Watson struck twice, both times successfully using the TV review, to have Amla lbw while the cameras showed Jacques Kallis had edged a pull to Ricky Ponting at second slip.
Watson then struck twice more in two balls when Smith unluckily dragged on, after making 37, before Ashwell Prince was caught plumb in front to a yorker.
Australia's use of the TV review was proving vital as they sent two more appeals upstairs and were rewarded when AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher - to hand Watson his five-for - were both lbw with the score on 77.
South Africa were now struggling just to avoid the follow on and Vernon Philander edged Harris to Ponting at third slip before Peter Siddle ran out Morne Morkel with a direct hit.
That left it up to last pair Steyn and Tahir to get their side across the follow-on mark - a job they did in a 13-run stand - before Harris bowled Tahir.
Earlier, Clarke's brilliant innings was finally ended for 151 as Australia's tail added vital runs this morning.
South Africa took an hour and 20 minutes to claim Australia's final two wickets, during which time the visitors added 70 runs.
Morkel claimed both wickets, although he had to wait over an hour for the initial breakthrough as Clarke and Siddle built a 59-run stand.
Their combination was eventually broken when Siddle (20) offered a leading edge to De Villiers at cover.
Clarke then hit a pair of straight boundaries off Morkel to bring up his 150, and add further gloss to one of the finest innings of his career, but later in the over he was clean bowled trying to find the ropes again.
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