Australia went to stumps on day two of the series-deciding third Test at 4-330 in reply to South Africa's first-innings 329, with the lead and control of the game.
Pat Cummins' decision to bowl first was heavily criticised, particularly after South Africa reached 0-140 at lunch before Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul.
But it did give his batters the best of the conditions on Wednesday, piling on the runs on a perfect viewing day under blue Cape Town skies.
Matt Renshaw scored 74 back up top opening and Cameron Green 65 on return from injury, before Josh Inglis (85no) and Alex Carey (51no) went to stumps unbeaten.
Australia have been desperate to find a day like this, after being bowled out for 99 in Gqeberha last week and conceding they had not batted well as a unit.
Since the start of 2024, Australia had only had 12 century stands in 25 Tests, with only West Indies having less in that period of all World Test Championship sides.
On Wednesday, they produced two with Green and Renshaw putting on 136 for the third wicket and Inglis and Carey adding an unbeaten 145 for the fifth.
Wednesday also marked only the third time in those 25 Tests that Australia had four players pass 50 in the same innings.
And it came at a time with the series on the line at 1-1 and Australia's status as the world's No.1-ranked team up for grabs.
The only Australian who would have been frustrated was Labuschagne, after he arrived at Newlands needing a score to keep his spot.
He has cut a tense figure all week with his Test career on the line, and carried that approach into his brief innings on Wednesday after Travis Head chopped on - again - for 41.
Labuschagne was tentative to his first few balls from Simon Harmer in the morning session before going back to a ball he should have gone forward to, edging the spinner to slip.
If Australia had more batting depth on the tour or if it was a home series, Labuschagne could well have been gone already.Â
That now appears certain to come before Australia host New Zealand in December.
Kurtis Patterson, Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney all loom as options to replace him, but Inglis will likely get first crack after his runs on Wednesday.
Australia batted with a calm composure all day, rarely hooking or pulling and being happy to accumulate.
Renshaw swept well and was again particularly impressive against spin, taking few risks until he tried to uppercut Marco Jansen and was caught behind.
Green looked a ready-made top-order batter at No.4, and was also controlled with the exception of one curious over against Rabada when he twice pulled him for sixes.
Having put the shot away before that, the first one sailed over the rope before the second only marginally cleared Marques Ackerman.
Green briefly admonished himself and regained his control, before pushing at a Jansen ball and edging him to slip less than two overs after Renshaw's exit.
At 4-185, the door suddenly looked open for South Africa, but Inglis and Carey continued the accumulation and got through the final session unscathed.
Inglis, in particular, had a few flourishes, cutting through backward point, before also pulling Rabada for six on an off-day for the key quick.
24°C