PRETORIA — David Warner took over from Mitchell Johnson as South Africa's tormentor-in-chief as the Australian opener blitzed a quickfire century to extend his team's huge lead on the third day of the first Test Friday. Warner was dropped three times in a characteristically cavalier 115 off 151 balls and featured in a partnership of 205 runs for the second wicket with Alex Doolan. Australia closed the day 479 runs ahead of its host at 288 for three in its second innings, a massive lead with two days still to play. Doolan fell 11 runs short of a debut Test century, caught behind by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers off part-time spinner JP Duminy in the last hour of the day. Shaun Marsh (44) and Michael Clarke (17) will resume on the fourth day as Australia dominated again following a seven-wicket haul for Johnson who helped bowl out South Africa for 206 in their first innings before lunch. South Africa paid a heavy price for dropping Warner when he was on 27 when substitute fielder Dean Elgar spilled a high one in the deep and when two wild slashes provided top edges for the slips that Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith got hands to but could not hold. Warner and Doolan, whose 89 runs came off 154 balls, piled on the agony for the top-ranked Test side, whose ordinary bowling was matched by uncharacteristically sloppy fielding. Earlier, Johnson scythed through the batting order as he took three more wickets on the third day to end with a figures of seven for 68. Only De Villiers provided any resistance with a defiant 91 that ensured the follow-on target was passed but South Africa's hopes of batting on to lunch ended as he was caught trying to blast a slower ball from Johnson back over the bowler's head. South Africa made an early breakthrough with the wicket of opener Chris Rogers (1) in the second over as he was bowled by Dale Steyn but after that were put to the sword by Warner and Doolan. Warner was the second wicket to fall 205 runs later when his swashbuckling knock ended tamely with a catch at first slip off spinner Peterson. Australia to tour Zimbabwe Australia's cricket team will tour Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade to play a triangular one-day series that also will involve South Africa. The tournament is likely to be scheduled for July or August, around the time South Africa was meant to visit its neighbor for a two-test and limited-overs series. Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka says the tournament will bring “financial relief” to the country's struggling board, which has been unable to play players over the last five months and seen its national squad go on strike in the buildup to next month's World Twenty20. Australia last toured the southern African country in 2004 for a one-day series, which the Aussies won 3-0. Australia has since avoided visiting the politically troubled nation. — Agencies Scoreboard Australia (st innings) 397 South Africa (1st innings) G. Smith c Marsh b Johnson 10 A. Petersen c Haddin b Johnson 02 H. Amla lbw b Siddle 17 F. du Plessis c Clarke b Johnson 03 A. de Villiers c Warner b Johnson 91 J. Duminy c Johnson b Lyon 25 R. McLaren b Johnson 08 R. Peterson c Clarke b Johnson 10 V. Philander lbw b Lyon 15 D. Steyn not out 07 M. Morkel c Haddin b Johnson 00 Extras (b14, lb2, nb1, w1) 18 Total (61.1 overs) 206 Falls: 1-11 (Smith), 2-15 (Petersen), 3-23 (Du Plessis), 4-43 (Amla), 5-110 (Duminy), 6-126 (McLaren), 7-140 (Peterson), 8-189 (Philander), 9-202 (De Villiers). Bowling: Harris 17-3-51-0, Johnson 17.1-1-68-7 (1w), Siddle 13-1-33-1 (1nb), Lyon 14-0-38-2. Australia (2nd innings) C. Rogers b Steyn 01 D. Warner c Smith b Peterson 115 A. Doolan c De Villiers b Duminy 89 S. Marsh not out 44 M. Clarke not out 17 Extras (b3, lb13, w6) 22 Total (3 wkts, 69 overs) 288 Falls: 1-1 (Rogers), 2-206 (Warner), 3-243 (Doolan). Bowling: Philander 11-2-28-0, Steyn 13-2-60-1, McLaren 11-0-47-0 (1w), Morkel 11-2-38-0, Peterson 19-1-87-1 (5w), Duminy 4-0-12-1.
