A year to the day since his career-best performance, Andy Bichel again rose to the challenge of a rare Test cricket appearance.

But it took an umpiring blunder for him to make the vital breakthrough this morning.

On this day last year Bichel took Test-best figures of 5-60 to put Australia on the path to victory over the West Indies.

Today, he found himself on a hat-trick, took a catch and effected a run-out as South Africa found itself on the ropes in the second Test at the MCG.

Bichel finished with 3-44 as South Africa was bowled out for 277 at tea.

In reply Australia was 0-126 at stumps after Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer continued their amazing run-making relationship.

When rain forced an early close, Langer was on 67 and Hayden 55.

Neither looked in danger against a South African attack which gets blunter by the day as this series approaches its halfway point.

Bichel, after an unlucky first day, had a reversal of fortune in the 60th over when umpire Eddie Nicholls was somehow lured into giving out Jacques Kallis for 38.

A Bichel bouncer, one of dozens Kallis faced in his innings, appeared to slide past the gloves of the South African No.4.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist didn't even appeal, Shane Warne waved his arms at first slip and Bichel's plea was half-hearted at best.

But Kallis was sent packing with a sad face - with some justification.

"Everyone's seen the replay ... I was lucky," Bichel confessed later.

"From front on it looked pretty good but from behind it looks not as good - but it was Eddie's decision.

"As far as I'm concerned Eddie made the right decision."

It's not the first time bad luck has gone against the visitors in this series and this time it ruined a good partnership.

"Kallis and (Neil) McKenzie were batting really well in the first hour,(to break) their partnership was crucial," Bichel said.

From his next ball Bichel took a sharp return catch from the sadly out of form Lance Klusener as South Africa slipped to 5-131 from its resumption on 3-89.

Mark Boucher (43) survived the hat-trick and put on a good partnership of 67 with McKenzie before Bichel ended his stay with a simple catch at mid-off from the bowling of Mark Waugh.

After McKenzie (67) fell lbw to Brett Lee, Bichel popped up again, throwing down the wicket to run-out Claude Henderson (5).

Lee again opted to bounce the tailenders, blasting short balls at Allan Donald, who did his best to remain cool while looking decidedly wobbly before edging to Ricky Ponting at third slip.

Australia's only blemish on a day of accurate and aggressive bowling came when Steve Waugh opted to play cat and mouse with the last pair.

He continually offered Shaun Pollock a single to try to get batting bunny Nantie Hayward on strike but Pollock played the game a little too shrewdly, doing enough to protect his No.11 while also gathering runs.

As a result, the pair grew in confidence and added 44 for the last wicket - South Africa's sixth-best effort against Australia.

Pollock's 42 not out was his highest score against Australia and Hayward reached his Test-best before he edged Bichel to Mark Waugh at second slip.

Unfortunately neither was able to reproduce the effort with the ball, Pollock conceding 41 runs off 10 overs while Hayward was smashed for 33 off five overs.

© 2001 AAP