This Test match could be over in a matter of hours.
The Proteas are crumbling at the Gabba, reeling at 7-66 at tea on day two with scores level.
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Australian captain Pat Cummins struck almost immediately after the lunch break, removing South African opener Sarel Erwee for 3 with a delivery that jagged away and caught the outside edge.
Cameron Green leapt into the air and caught the Kookaburra three metres above the turf. If anyone else was fielding there, it would have gone to the boundary rope.
“They are in dire straits, South Africa,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
Temba Bavuma and Khaya Zondo combined for a 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket to steady the ship before the former was bamboozled by Nathan Lyon for 29.
The following over, cult hero Scott Boland joined the party.
Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne tentatively prodded at a full delivery on off stump that was edged towards Stere Smith at second slip.
And two deliveries later, Boland knocked over all-rounder Marco Jansen for a second-ball duck with an absolute gem that seamed away and crashed into the off stump.
It marked the fifth time in his five-Test career that Boland has taken multiple wickets in an over.
Suddenly, it was entirely feasible that Australia wouldn’t need to bat again.
MATCH CENTRE: Scorecards, stats, commentary and more!
‘LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE’: Starc cements status as Australia cricket legend with trademark dismissal
Earlier on Sunday morning, Australia lost its final five wickets in quick succession, with South Africa’s seamers skittling the middle order at the Gabba.
The hosts ultimately posted 218, giving them a vital first-innings lead of 66 runs.
But the Proteas crumbled in reply, with South Africa falling to 2-3 after Cummins trapped rival skipper Dean Elgar lbw.
Elgar reviewed but ball-tracking had the ball clipping the bails by the barest of margins.
The following over saw Mitchell Starc take his 300th Test wicket with a wonderball that split Rassie van der Dussen in two and skittled his stumps in stunning fashion.
“You are witnessing one of the greats,” Adam Gilchrist said in commentary.
Starc is only the seventh Australian to pass the milestone, joining legends Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Lyon, Dennis Lillee, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee.
The left-armer snared No. 301 later in the afternoon session, with Keshav Maharaj edging behind for 16.
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Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
South Africa XI: Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
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Earlier, Cameron Green had looked strong on his way to 18 after a series of brilliant drives to Kagiso Rabada. But, ironically, he perished on the drive with Marco Jansen striking 30 minutes into day two. In just his second ball of the day, Jansen found the outside edge and Keshav Maharaj dropped the chance at third slip only for Sarel Erwee to pick up the crumbs and send the all-rounder packing.
Just two balls later, disaster struck for Travis Head who was caught down leg side off Jansen for 92, making it his second dismissal in the nineties this summer.
Head reviewed and although hotspot showed nothing conclusive, real-time snicko showed a spike as the ball past his glove.
Nonetheless, Ian Smith was somewhat surprised, saying: “It looked for a sec as if (it would be overturned). That’s quite a weird scenario that.”
AUS v RSA: First Test, Day 1 Highlights | 06:49
Meanwhile, Adam Gilchrist declared that South Africa was “back in the contest” after two quick wickets, while Allan Border said the game is “still in the balance”.
Mitchell Starc (14) was one half of a valuable 31-run partnership with Alex Carey that helped restore Australia’s dominance before he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Lungi Ngidi.
Pat Cummins only lasted three balls and didn’t trouble the scorers before skying a pull shot off Kagiso Rabada to mid-wicket.
The final wicket to fall was Nathan Lyon, also for a duck to Rabada, while Alex Carey was unbeaten on 22.
Fifteen wickets were taken on day one, including two in the final 10 minutes of play as Steve Smith was bowled by Anrich Nortje, and nightwatchman Scott Boland didn’t survive until stumps.
The carnage has since continued with the green wicket still offering plenty for the fast bowlers on day two.
Despite missing another century, Head is still building towards a special summer, having already made scores of 99, 175 and 38* against the West Indies.
His average for the summer is now 134.66 with an impressive strike rate of 92.44.
Meanwhile, before play on day two, Mark Waugh said that David Warner might only have the rest of the summer to prove he’s still worthy of a spot at the top of the order.
Warner is averaging just over 20 this summer and hasn’t made a big score in the Test arena in nearly three years.
On Saturday, he was out for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings with the left-hander looking uncertain, and out of confidence while facing Kagiso Rabada.
“The concern is the way he played that shot. He took his eye off the ball so the signs weren’t good with his technique,” Waugh said. “I think the fast bowlers worry him. I think he’s lacking in confidence, and most batters would be after a run of downs.
“He hasn’t had a lot of luck but I think he needs some runs in the next couple of Tests to keep being picked in the Test team.
“I know India and England are coming up, two big series, but it doesn’t matter who you are, your job as a batsman is to make runs.
“He’ll get a bit of leeway because of his record and who he is, but how much leeway do you keep giving a batsman?
“Selectors will want to see him make some runs in the next couple of Test matches, otherwise his Test future will be in doubt.”