PERTH, Australia — South Africa hit back with two wickets after Australia's second-string pace attack dismissed the Proteas on a dramatic opening day of the third and final Test at the WACA Ground Friday. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Proteas were bundled out for 225 despite more heroics from Adelaide Test hero Faf du Plessis in a match that will decide the top-ranked nation in Test cricket. However, the Proteas quickly struck back with a vengeance, claiming two Australian wickets in the hour before stumps. Opener Ed Cowan was caught in slips by Jacques Kallis off pace spearhead Dale Steyn for a first-ball duck, before Shane Watson (10) was given out lbw to Vernon Philander on a decision review, after umpire Asad Rauf had turned down the initial appeal. At the close, the home team was 33 for two, with David Warner on 12 and night watchman Nathan Lyon surviving a torrid examination from Steyn in the final over of the day to be seven not out. While the South Africans were chasing a score of 300, recalled spinner Robin Peterson, who made 31 with the bat to be the second-highest scorer behind du Plessis' unbeaten 78, said the two late wickets had renewed the team's spirits. “We have to make it (225) a good score,” he said. “But after being 6-75, we are pretty happy getting with scoring 225, and especially getting two wickets late in the evening. “It made 225 look like a decent score, especially if we can get one or two wickets tomorrow morning.” Australia was forced to completely revamp its fast bowling lineup for the match, with its three pacemen from the drawn Adelaide Test — Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson — all ruled out. Left-armer Mitchell Johnson was recalled for his first Test in 12 months, Mitchell Starc was promoted after being 12th man for the first two matches in the series, and Hastings was handed his Test debut. All were in the wickets as they decimated the South African top order. Khawaja gets chance Usman Khawaja will have an opportunity to audition for Ricky Ponting's spot in the Test team after the left-hander was named captain of the Australia Chairman's XI to take on Sri Lanka in Canberra next week. Former captain Ponting Thursday said he would be calling time on his glittering 17-year career after this week's third Test against South Africa. Left-handed batsman Khawaja, 25, who made his Test debut for the injured Ponting in the Ashes Test in Sydney in January 2011, will lead the side in the only warm-up game for the visitors before the three-Test series kicks off in Hobart on Dec. 14. The Pakistan-born batsman averages 39 from six Tests matches and is a contender for the No. 4 batting spot in the Australian team, currently held by Ponting. Sri Lanka will also play five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals during the two-month tour. — Agencies Scoreboard South Africa (1st Innings) Smith c Clarke b Watson 16 Petersen b Starc 30 Amla run out (Warner) 11 Kallis b Starc 02 De Villers c Clarke b Hastings 04 Elgar c Wade b Johnson 00 Du Plessis not out 78 Peterson c Wade b Lyon 31 Philander c Hussey b Lyon 30 Steyn b Johnson 02 Morkel c Hastings b Lyon 17 Extras (lb2, w2) 04 Total (all out, 74 overs) 225 Falls: 1-38 (Smith) 2-61 (Petersen), 3-63 (Kallis), 4-67 (Amla), 5-67 (de Villiers), 6-75 (Elgar), 7-132 (Peterson), 8-196 (Philander), 9-206 (Steyn), 10-225 (Morkel). Bowling: Starc 16-3-55-2, Hastings 20-2-51-1, Watson 9-2-22-1 (1w), Johnson 17-3-54-2 (1w), Lyon 12-1-41-3. Australia (1st Innings) Warner not out 12 Cowan c Kallis b Steyn 00 Watson lbw Philander 10 Lyon not out 07 Extras (lb4) 04 Total (for 2, 11 overs) 33 Falls: 1-3 (Cowan), 2-18 (Watson). Bowling: Steyn 6-2-21-1, Philander 4-0-8-1, Morkel 1-1-0-0. Still to bat: Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc.
