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.
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

Australia were bowled out for a paltry 47 on day two of the First Test against South Africa in Cape Town, but such is the remarkable nature of an extraordinary game, Michael Clarke's side will still expect to win.

South Africa require just 236 to win in the fourth innings, but given the two sides were dismissed for 96 and 47 in the same day, the modest total looks distinctly improbable for Graeme Smith's team.

The Australians had started the second day on 214-8 in their first innings but rallied to 284 all out, before dismantling the Proteas for 96, courtesy of Shane Watson's five wickets for 17 runs. Having narrowly avoided the follow-on, the home side began their stunning fight back.

On Test debut, Vernon Philander claimed five for 15 runs, with Australia at one stage reduced to 18 for six and then 21 for nine.

Only a spirited tail-end partnership by Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon ensured Australia surpassed the lowest Test score ever posted, by New Zealand against England in 1955, but their obdurate 21 run combination came to an end when Dale Steyn had Siddle caught by Morne Morkel.

It is only the third time in the history of Test cricket that all four innings of a match have taken place on the same day, and at the close of play on only the second day, South Africa finished on 55 for 1.

Australia South Africa