Steyn strikes for South Africans

Dale Steyn and South Africa's fast bowlers were in the wickets against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide on Sunday.

South African pacemen Dale Steyn will get his first hit-out of the Australian tour at Adelaide Oval. (AAP)

Dale Steyn and his vaunted South African pacemen have made instant tour inroads by tormenting young Cricket Australia XI batsmen.

Steyn's outswing masterclass of 2-9 from six overs helped bowl out the CA XI for 103 on Sunday's last day of the tour-opening game in Adelaide.

The Proteas posted 4-181 in their second innings, with Rilee Rossouw top-scoring with 77 retired in a match called off an hour early.

The tourists then planned internal centre-wicket practice under lights at Adelaide Oval ahead of the three-Test series against Australia starting November 3 in Perth.

Captain Faf du Plessis failed with the bat again on Sunday, adding 20 to his first-innings eight against a CA XI, all aged 22 or under.

But Steyn led an imposing fast bowling group, with quicks Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott taking two wickets each.

Steyn and Philander reduced the home side to 4-20, then Rabada struck twice and they were 7-39.

Skipper Matthew Short counter-attacked and made 57 from 61 balls - the only batsman to pass six.

Harry Nielsen, the 21-year-old son of ex-Australian coach Tim, stood in as wicketkeeper for the South Africans, covering an ill Quenton de Kock, and took four catches

The tourists faced 44 overs with the bat, with Rossouw's 84-ball knock the highlight.

De Kock (122 retired), JP Duminy (97) and Hashim Amla (51 retired) made first-innings runs and all of South Africa's quick bowlers threatened with the pink ball.

Rabada took 2-27, Abbott 2-16 and Morkel 2-27 for the South Africans, who play another two-day game in Adelaide on Thursday and Friday before travelling to Perth.