Australia collapses to series defeat

Usman Khawaja and under-fire captain Steve Smith returned to the crease optimistic of forcing a draw after staging a fightback on Monday, but Australia's hopes of avoiding defeat were quickly dashed.

Published : Nov 15, 2016 09:07 IST , Hobart

South Africans celebrate their series win against Australia.
South Africans celebrate their series win against Australia.
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South Africans celebrate their series win against Australia.

South Africa heaped further misery on the embattled Australians, easing to a crushing win by an innings and 80 runs as it wrapped up the three-Test series in Hobart.

If Australia's first-innings capitulation was not bad enough, the host crumbled again on day four of the second Test to hand the South Africans an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

>SCORECARD AND BALL-BY-BALL DETAILS

Australia resumed at 121-2 on day four but Kyle Abbott (6-77) and Kagiso Rabada (4-34) tore through the batting order to wrap up the match before lunch on Tuesday.

READ: >Lehmann: 'Only four safe in shattered Australia'

READ: >Smith 'embarrassed' by latest Australia loss

Usman Khawaja and under-fire captain Steve Smith returned to the crease optimistic of forcing a draw after staging a fightback on Monday, but Australia's hopes of avoiding defeat were quickly dashed.

Seam and swing were on the menu early, and Abbott was the first bowler to benefit, dismissing Khawaja for 64.

Abbott's delivery angled away from Khawaja, who edged behind to Quinton de Kock at chest-height.

Despite Smith surviving and successfully reviewing a caught-behind decision at 130-3, Khawaja's departure triggered a stunning collapse.

Abbott struck again, claiming the wicket of Adam Voges (2). The veteran batsman was caught between pulling and leaving, misjudging the length as the ball nicked the bat.

Callum Ferguson (1) followed five runs later with the Aussies reeling at 140-5. He was another batsman caught in two minds, not sure whether to duck or sway away, and in the end Rabada's delivery brushed his glove and carried through to Dean Elgar at third slip.

Peter Nevill (6) and Test debutant Joe Mennie (0) were quickly sent back to the pavilion, falling victim to Rabada in the same over.

Smith was Australia's last form of resistance and once he departed after edging to de Kock, it all but ended the contest as South Africa finished off the tail, the host losing 32-8.

The third and final Test of the series is in Adelaide beginning November 24.

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