Australia collapsed meekly yet again as South Africa stole a march over them at the end of day one of the second Test in Hobart with a 86-run lead. South Africa opted to field first and almost everything went right for them from there as Vernon Philander (5/21) and Co. ran through the Aussies, skittling them out for a paltry 85. Mitchell Starc (3/49) showed great form but Hashim Amla (47) took his side to safety as the Proteas ended at 171/5.

An astounding 15 wickets fell in the day’s play, but Steven Smith (48 not out) and Amla’s performances with the bat showed that with good technique, patience, and application, one can score runs too. In the final session of the day’s play, Temba Bavuma (38 not out) and Quinton de Kock (28 not out) also looked solid at the crease.

Philander, spearheading the South African bowling attack in the absence of the injured Dale Steyn, had scalped the wickets of David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges in the first hour of the day. At 8/4, the signs were ominous for Australia and the South African bowlers were sniffing blood.

The returning Kyle Abbott (3/41) also impressed. Before the lunch break, the Australians lost two more wickets as substitute Dane Vilas’s superb pickup and direct hit from the deep sent back Callum Ferguson back to the pavilion. Peter Nevill had no answer to a Kagiso Rabada delivery angling back in, and was caught leg-before. It was 31/6 at that stage.

There was a bit of a resurgence through Smith and another debutant, Joe Mennie, for the seventh wicket. For Australia, it was a question of how much Smith could rally with the tail. Unfortunately for the hosts, the impeccable Philander, who had gone off the field for treatment after colliding with the Australian skipper, offered little breathing space.

South Africa got off to a steady start with openers Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook taking them to 43/0. Starc’s three-wicket burst affected proceedings somewhat. The Australian pacer was steaming in at express pace and got late movement away from the left-handers. It took Starc only 10 deliveries to dismiss Elgar, Cook and JP Duminy.

Josh Hazlewood’s deliveries were also skidding away from the batsmen – Faf du Plessis and Amla’s wickets were well-worked, inducing them to poke at the ball outside off stump. Amla was back in his groove, driving with panache on the off-side. Bavuma was his battling self and with the help of De Kock later in the day, steered South Africa to safety.

Brief scores:

Australia 85 (Steve Smith 48 not out; Vernon Philander 5/21, Kyle Abbott 3/41) trail South Africa 171/5 (Hashim Amla 47, Temba Bavuma 38 not out; Mitchell Starc 3/49, Josh Hazlewood 2/36) by 86 runs.