Hughes remained unbeaten on 136 as Australia surged to 292 for three in their second innings. The opener, who hit his maiden Test ton in the first innings, became the youngest player to score a century in each innings of a Test at 20 years and 98 days old. West Indian George Headley earlier held the record with 114 and 112 against England in Georgetown in 1930 aged 20 years and 297 days old.

Hughes and captain Ricky Ponting (81) added 164 in just over three hours for the second wicket as Australia piled on the misery for the South African bowlers. Ponting became the second-highest Australian and fourth on the all-time Test-scorers list when he reached 61 and 10,928 career runs.

Hughes kept going, reaching his century in 277 minutes off 247 deliveries.

The visitors needed just three balls to wrap up South Africa’s first innings for 138, but did not to enforce the follow on.