Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla slammed centuries to steer South Africa to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Australia, on Day 3 of the first Test, in Newlands, Cape Town, on Friday.

- Scorecard / Match Report

Amla smashed a 126-ball century, while Smith became the first player in history to score four centuries in winning fourth innings run chases. He got to the milestone with a single to level the scores, and then hit the winning run to finish on 101 not out.

Smith and Amla put on 195 for the second wicket in only 184 minutes, off 248 balls.

South Africa sealed victory before lunch to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Victory looked improbable less than 24 hours earlier when South Africa were dismissed for 96 in their first innings, allowing the Aussies a lead of 188 runs.

But the tourists were surprisingly shot out for 47. That left South Africa needing 236 for victory, with three days of play left.

Smith and Amla started the third day on 88 for one. They were lucky early on as Amla, after adding just one to his overnight total of 29, was dropped at first slip by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris.

Amla was also dropped off the last ball of the second day's play by Mike Hussey at gully, also off Harris.

Smith and Amla then settled down and put up a century partnership off 164 balls.

Amla seemed in a hurry to finish off the match as runs flowed. He was out playing an extravagant stroke, caught at gully by Australia captain Michael Clarke off Mitchell Johnson.

Harris was the most impressive Australian bowler, but could not take a wicket, while Shane Watson was unable to repeat his heroics of Thursday, when he claimed five for 17 to send South Africa tumbling.