Australia All Out For 85
Hobart: Australia have suffered a calamitous start to the second Test against South Africa, crashing to 5-18 before completely unravelling to end up 85 all out shortly after lunch. The disaster echoed what happened in Nottingham last year, when they were bowled out for 60 in the Ashes decider.
Even that total looked like it would be beyond Steve Smith’s in an eventful morning at Bellerive, where Vernon Philander was on a hat-trick before being injured in a mid-pitch collision with Australia’s skipper.
Philander returned to the attack after the meal break and finished with figures of 5-21 from 10.1 overs. The chaotic collapse, which came five years after Australia were rolled for 47 by the same opposition in Cape Town, would have been so much worse if not for Smith, one of only two batsmen to reach double figures. The captain’s knock of 48 represented more than half of Australia’s total and showed it was possible to score runs once a batsman was settled. The determined right-hander also managed to take Philander out of the attack for most of the morning session, but not in a way he would have liked.
Philander, who claimed figures of 3-3 in a sensational opening spell featuring plenty of unplayable deliveries, trudged off with a shoulder injury after clashing with Smith. Philander turned and appealed animatedly after a ball struck Smith’s pads in the 13th over, while Smith took off for a quick single. Philander grimaced, slumped to the ground shortly after the blow then was taken to the rooms where his shoulder was iced.
The right-armer returned to the attack after lunch, dismissing debutant Joe Mennie for 10 and Nathan Lyon for two to end the innings. Debutant Callum Ferguson, who faced Philander’s hat-trick ball following the dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges, was run out for three by substitute fielder Dane Vilas. -AAP New Zealand in Workington in the Four Nations Rugby League Scotland led 12-10 with six minutes to go but Gerard Beale scored two tries for the Four Nations champions. Aitken responded with the try of the match and then Brough kicked the extras on a wet night in Cumbria. The result means that England will take on Australia in the final if they beat or draw with the Kangaroos today. “I’m as proud as anything,” said Scotland coach Steve McCormack. Not only that neversay-die attitude from our lads but just the manner in which we got that result. “We’re also a bit disappointed that we didn’t win. The players were sensational. We’ve played against the world’s best team tonight with a young team.” Brough, who equalled Andrew Henderson’s appearance record with his 23rd cap, needed pain-killing injections before and during the match.
“I probably shouldn’t have played,” he said. “I can’t put my heel down now. But it was worth it with the effort the boys put in.” New Zealand were clear favourites to beat Scotland, who had been thumped by both Australia and England in their first two games. But McCormack’s side started brightly and, helped by a string of early penalties, played much of the opening 20 minutes in the opposition’s half. The star-studded Kiwis took the lead when right winger David Fusitu’a took an offload from second rower Tohu Harris to score a try on his debut, which Isaac Luke converted to make it 6-0. Wigan winger Lewis Tierney responded for Scotland three minutes later, chasing Lachlan Coote’s grubber kick for his first international try. Playing against the wind and rain in the second half, New Zealand extended their lead when Fusitu’a crossed for his second try. -BBC Sports