Australia collapse as Rabada angers tourists with Smith send-off
Port Elizabeth: Australia are on the ropes at St George's Park, collapsing between lunch and tea on the first day of the second Test, and have been angered by a send-off given to Steve Smith by Kagiso Rabada.
It has been left to wicketkeeper Tim Paine and the tail to perform a rescue act in the final session here after the tourists lost 6-72 to surrender the upper hand to South Africa.
Steven Smith (left) with teammate Shaun Marsh, look on as the television umpires reviews his LBW appeal.
Photo: APRabada ran riot just before the tea break, collecting three wickets in six balls including the prized scalp of Steve Smith for 25 to leave Australia 6-170.
The fiery Proteas fast bowler flirted with trouble when he celebrated by screaming in Smith's face and rubbed shoulders with the Australian captain after having him trapped leg-before playing across his line.
Umpire Kumar Dharmasena called Rabada, a serial offender, and South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis over for a discussion immediately afterwards, demonstrating a proactive approach to maintaining peace after events spiralled out of control in Durban last week.
The send-off infuriated Smith but Australia had other issues. Rabada knocked over both Marsh brothers soon afterwards. He had Shaun Marsh lbw for 24 and then Mitchell, who due to illness had Paine bat ahead of him, caught behind for four.
Warner (63) earlier cashed in after a cautious start in slow and seaming conditions at St George's Park to guide Australia to 1-98 at lunch.
Back to business: Cameron Bancroft congratulates David Warner on his half-century.
It took a very good ball from the towering third-gamer Lungi Ngidi, recalled here at the expense of Morne Morkel, to hit the top of his middle and off stumps and send him packing.
Warner was joined for the entire session by Cameron Bancroft before the West Australian edged an out-swinging delivery from Vernon Philander to a diving Quinton de Kock on 38.
Given the conditions, it was another encouraging performance from the 25-year-old, who fought his way out of a lean run with a second-innings half-century in Durban.
The same could not be said, however, for Usman Khawaja (4), whose dismal overseas record continued when he prodded at a ball from Philander and nicked it to de Kock.
After the shenanigans on both sides of the rope in Durban, and the big song and dance in the aftermath, order was promptly and predictably restored in the Friendly City.
The major noises here as the first day began were being made from the instruments of the ground's famous brass band, not from the mouths of players.
That changed, however, when Rabada gave Smith a piece of his mind before tea. Expect to hear more about that.
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