Wickets tumble in remarkable Newlands test

•  Australia dismissed for just 47 but lead by 235
• South Africa earlier all out for 96

CAPE TOWN (Reuters): Australia narrowly avoided scoring the lowest ever test total as they capitulated to 47 all out but the tourists could still win the first test against South Africa following an extraordinary second day on Thursday.

The lowest test score was 26 by New Zealand against England in 1955 while Australia’s lowest was 36 against England in 1902. A dogged last-wicket stand of 26 from Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon made sure Australia steered clear of those unwanted records but it was their fourth lowest total, worst against South Africa and lowest score since 1902. Hosts South Africa had earlier been bowled out for 96 on a reasonable-looking wicket after the tourists had made 284 in their first innings with captain Michael Clarke scoring 151. Parts of all four innings will take place on the same day as 22 wickets fell. Despite their woeful second innings effort albeit with the ball moving, Australia led by 235 and still have a decent chance of winning the first match of the two-test series.

South Africa’s Vernon Philander celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Brad Haddin during the second day of their first test cricket match in Cape Town, November 10, 2011. REUTERS

Score board

Australia 1st innings 284    

South Africa first innings    

 J. Rudolph b Harris                    18     G. Smith b Watson                      37

 H. Amla lbw b Watson                    03

 J. Kallis c Ponting b Watson        00

 AB de Villiers lbw b Harris             08

 A. Prince lbw b Watson                  00

 M. Boucher lbw b Watson    04

 V. Philander c Ponting b Harris     04

 D. Steyn not out                        09     M. Morkel run out                       01

 I. Tahir b Harris                       05

 Extras: (lb-4, w-1, nb-2)                07

Total: (all out, 24.3 overs)            96

Fall of wickets: 1-24 2-49 3-49 4-73 5-73 6-77 7-77 8-81

9-83 10-96    

Bowling: Harris 10.3-3-33-4 (1nb), Johnson 5-0-26-0 (1w),

4-1-16-0 (1nb), Watson 5-2-17-5    

Australia second innings    

 S. Watson lbw b Steyn                 04

 P. Hughes c Rudolph b Morkel     09               

 R. Ponting lbw b Philander            00

 M. Clarke lbw b Philander             02

 M. Hussey c Prince b Morkel     00

 B. Haddin c Boucher b Philander    00

 M. Johnson c Amla b Philander     03

 R. Harris c Smith b Morkel            03

 P. Siddle not out                    12                       

 S. Marsh lbw b Philander              00

 N. Lyon c de Villiers b Steyn       14              Extras :                               00     Total (all out, 18 overs)            47  

Fall of wickets: 1-4 2-11 3-13 4-13 5-15 6-18 7-21 8-21 9-21

10-47    

Bowling: Steyn 5-1-23-2, Philander 7-3-15-5, Morkel 6-1-9-3