THE Decision Review System (DRS) was both SA's ally and enemy in the first test against Australia in Brisbane yesterday.

But there was no such ambiguity concerning the poor performance of umpire Asad Rauf, whom the DRS found guilty of making "four" significant errors during the third day's play at the Gabba. One of third umpire Richard Kettleborough's decisions was also questionable.

First Hashim Amla declined to refer his lbw dismissal - and replays showed the ball would have sailed over the stumps.

Then Dale Steyn, who was given out lbw to a delivery that was almost identical to the one that claimed Amla, survived thanks to a successful review.

That was followed by SA being denied the wicket of Ed Cowan because the Morne Morkel delivery he gloved to AB de Villiers was declared a no-ball, a ruling that was handed down after the Proteas referred the not-out decision.

Rauf was responsible for both of the dodgy lbw decisions, the missed no-ball and the gloved catch that went unspotted.

Kettleborough decided that Morkel's delivery to Cowan was illegal despite evidence that a small part of the South African's heel had indeed been behind the bowling crease.

Jacques Kallis, who was batting with Amla when the latter was given out, said they had discussed asking for a review.

"I said to him the height might have been an issue," Kallis said.

"He felt it wasn't going to go over - that it might have been going to clip the bails.

"It was a tough one to call. Maybe I should take a bit of the blame for that."

Amla's 104 made him test cricket's highest run-scorer this year, but he was overtaken by Michael Clarke before the close. Kallis's 147 was his 44th test century, which took him to within seven tons of Tendulkar's record of 51.