Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Vernon Philander was unstoppable on Saturday as he speared through’s Australia’s defences like a knife through butter to leave them in all sorts of trouble in Hobart.

Philander finished with a five-wicket haul as Australia, whose performance with the bat can only be described as shambolic, were skittled out for 85, their lowest in Test match on home soil in 32 years. The last time they were bundled out for a lower score came in November 1984 when they were bowled out for 76 by the West Indies in Perth.

Opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, the Proteas didn’t have to wait long to get their first breakthrough as David Warner was caught behind for one run off the bowling of Philander on the sixth ball of the match.

Australia lost another wicket in the very next over as Kyle Abbott, who was brought in to replace Dale Steyn following his shoulder injury in the first Test, trapped Joe Burn lbw for one run.

Philander continued to torment the hosts and was rewarded with two wickets in two balls in the ninth over as he first removed Usman Khawaja for four runs before sending Adam Voges back to the pavilion for a golden duck.

In the 13th over though, South Africa looked as if they had been dealt a major blow when Philander seemed to have suffered a serious shoulder injury after colliding with Australia captain Steven Smith.

Despite Philander’s absence for the rest of the opening session, things continued to go from bad to worse for the Baggy Greens as some brilliant fielding from substitute fielder Dane Vilas saw debutant Callum Ferguson run out for three runs.

With Australia having been reduced to 17/5, it marked the lowest score at which they had lost half their side, with the previous worst being 21/5 against England in Nottingham in August 2015.

Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill did not last long either as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada for three runs.

Following the lunch break, Philander was back on the field and continued where he left off as he clean bowled debutant Joe Mennie with a peach of a delivery for 10.

Abbott took over from that point as he sent Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood packing before Philander put the final nail in the coffin for Australia as he had Nathan Lyon caught behind for two runs.

With his entire side having been dismissed, Australia captain Steven Smith was left stranded on 48 off 80 balls, which included five boundaries.

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Philander was easily the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Abbott snapped up three and Rabada chipped in with one as Australia were bowled out for 85.

Australia’s innings only lasted 197 balls, which is their second-shortest innings at home in terms of balls faced since 1936.

Trailing by 85 runs, the Proteas got off to a solid start before Dean Elgar was trapped lbw off the bowling of Starc, while his opening partner Stephen Cook was caught behind just four balls later.

JP Duminy became Starc’s third victim before Hazlewood got in on the action as he removed South Africa Faf du Plessis for seven runs.

Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma stabilised the innings with a 56-run partnership before Amla was caught behind off the bowling of Hazlewood for 47.

Bavuma and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock ensured South Africa lost no more wickets as they guided their side safely to stumps with an unbeaten 39-run stand.

Bavuma finished on 38 off 85 balls, which included five boundaries, while De Kock remained undefeated on 28 off 40 deliveries, which included three boundaries.

Starc was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Hazlewood claimed two.

South Africa ended day one on 171/5 and will continue batting on Sunday at 10:30 local time or 23:30 GMT (the previous day).