Dale Steyn wrecks India on Day One

Bad light brought an early end to the second Test in Durban with India tottering at 183 for six.

Dale Steyn grabbed four wickets to reduce India to 183 for six and put South Africa in command at stumps of a shortened day one of the second Test at Kingsmead.

Only 56 overs were possible in Durban after overnight rain and morning drizzle meant play started an hour late, with the first two sessions then extended by 30 minutes each.

And only 18 more deliveries were sent down after tea, before the light was offered to the batsmen, who happily walked off after a day of struggle in bowler-friendly conditions.

VVS Laxman (38) top scored for the Indians, but Steyn (four for 36) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (two for 40) plugged away with wickets coming at regular intervals.

Under overcast skies, the toss was again crucial - just as it was in the first Test at Pretoria which the home side won - and Graeme Smith called correctly, inviting the tourists to bat.

The hosts looked dangerous from the outset despite the two India openers doing well to survive the first 45 minutes on a green track.

Virender Sehwag was hit flush on the glove first ball by Steyn, with his partner Murali Vijay dropped on three when an edge from the same bowler dipped at the last moment on Paul Harris at first slip.

But the paceman had his revenge when Sehwag (25) edged to Jacques Kallis at second slip, before Vijay (19) followed by tickling behind to Mark Boucher.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid helped them reach lunch on 74 for two, but they were dealt a major blow in the first over of the second session when the former went for 13 - his edge off Tsotsobe held comfortably by Kallis at second slip.

Laxman almost followed shortly afterwards when he top-edged Morne Morkel, but the ball landed safely despite Hashim Amla's efforts to turn and chase it from short leg.

He was on eight then and gradually began to rebuild the innings, taking the visitors past the 100 mark in the 31st over.

However, a lack of stability continued at the other end with the loss of Dravid (25), who gave Steyn a third wicket when he edged to Boucher.

The bowler had team-mate Tsotsobe to thank for the wicket of Laxman, though, when he stuck out his hand at mid-wicket and plucked the ball one-handed when it already looked like it had passed him.That reduced India to 130 for five.Cheteshwar Pujara (19) came in and looked good until he tried to pull Tsotsobe and skied the ball straight up, allowing Boucher to claim his third catch and send the Proteas into tea firmly in command on 168 for six.With the light quickly deteriorating after tea, only three more overs were sent down as Mahendra Singh Dhoni (20 not out) and Harbhajan Singh (15) took the world number one side to the close.

Source: ESPNstar.com


















Dale Steyn southafrican cricketer