South African seamer Dale Steyn picked up a 10-wicket haul in the second Test against Australia on Monday as the hosts slumped to 247 all out at the MCG in Melbourne.

At stumps Greame Smith and Neil McKenzie were unbeaten on 25 and three respectively as South Africa prepared to go into the final day?s play in a dominant position needing a further 153 runs to win the Test and clinch the series.

For Australia it was another disappointing day as Steyn continued to trouble the Australian batsmen in Melbourne. He had picked up his ninth wicket of the game in the second session as the hosts struggled to 180 for seven at Tea.

Fresh off his knock of 76 on Sunday ? and his 5 for 87 in Australia?s first innings ? Steyn ended the second session on Monday with figures of 4 for 46 and ended Australia?s chances of a series-leveling victory.

He followed it up with his 10th shortly before the close of play when Peter Siddle edged to Mark Boucher behind the stumps ? bringing an end to the Australian innings.

Only skipper Ricky Ponting and Mitchell Johnson ? again a thorn in the South Africans? side ? offered any resistance, but it was not enough as the SA bowlers took control of proceedings.

After suffering at the hands of the Proteas tail-enders and, of course, the in-form JP Duminy on Sunday, Australia needed to bring the fight to South Africa on Monday morning, but unfortunately for the hosts, they could not.

Ponting?s men suffered a horror start, losing their first three wickets before even erasing the 65-run deficit. Steyn picked up the scalps of Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich in the morning and then returned to knock over Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds in a brutal spell of fast bowling.

It was again left to Ponting to steer the Aussie ship, but he was forced to watch as batsmen continued to fall at the other end ? before Johnson joined him at the crease.

Ponting picked up seven boundaries after lunch, pulling and driving quite superbly, but while the Australian captain lived up to his reputation, the rest of his senior team-mates continue to fail.

Hayden?s poor run of form continued when he holed out to JP Duminy for 23, while Mike Hussey?s horror Test ended with a measly knock of just two runs. Andrew Symonds, meanwhile, who inexplicably kept out fellow all-rounder Shane Watson was gone for nought.

Ponting and Johnson added 32 runs, but just when it seemed the Australian tail would wag furiously once again, Ponting was out on 99, pushing a Morne Morkel delivery to Smith at short cover.

Johnson continued to frustrate the South Africans during his unbeaten knock of 43, but unfortunately for Australia, the rest of the tail could not stand firm with Nathan Hauritz and finally Siddle falling.

Smith got off to a quick start ? perhaps in mind of the poor weather on the way ? bashing five boundaries before the close of play. And while McKenzie still looked scratchy he managed to survive till stumps.

He almost didn?t, however, being bowled by Brett Lee, only for a no-ball to be called. Luck it seems is firmly with the visitors in Melbourne and they will be banking on everything going there way on Tuesday.

History awaits the South Africans ? they only need claim it.