DURBAN – Dale Steyn produced another magnificent exhibition of fast outswing bowling on Sunday to scythe through the Indian batting on the opening day of the second Test at Kingsmead.
The world’s top-ranked bowler followed his seven wickets in South Africa’s innings victory in the first test with four for 36. At the close of a rain-interrupted day, India were 183 for six from 56 overs. Left-arm seamer Tsotsobe, who had struggled before lunch with two overs for 15 runs, returned after the break to take two for 15 in seven overs. He also pulled off a sensational catch at wide mid-on when he snapped up Vangipurappu Laxman’s well-struck pull off Steyn with his right hand.
After play had been delayed for hour by drizzle and a damp outfield, Steyn obtained vicious late away movement to have both opening batsmen, Virender Sehwag (25) and Murali Vijay (19) caught behind the wicket.
Sehwag tried to drive a late away-swinger from Steyn but was anchored to the crease and edged the ball to second slip. Vijay lived dangerously and he was dropped twice in the slip cordon off the bowling of Steyn, with his score on three and 15. The second miss did not matter, however, as Steyn’s next ball was a superb delivery that drew Vijay forward before jagging away late to find the edge and give wicketkeeper Mark Boucher a simple catch.
After lunch there was immediate success for the home side as Sachin Tendulkar (13) drove at a Tsotsobe delivery that was angled across him, edging a catch for Jacques Kallis at second slip.
Rahul Dravid and Laxman both showed their class in a 38-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Steyn produced a delivery that bounced more than Dravid expected. The veteran,
who had scored 25, gloved a simple catch to Boucher. Four overs later, Laxman pulled Steyn well, but Tsotsobe stuck out his right hand at wide mid-on and took an extraordinary catch as the ball raced past him. Laxman, who had top-scored with 38, was setting off to run and stood aghast with his hand on his side after realising he was out.
India were then 130 for five and their outlook became bleaker still when Cheteshwar Pujara (19) top-edged a hook at Tsotsobe and Boucher back-pedalled to claim the skied catch. Bad light ended play just three overs after tea, with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 20 and Harbhajan Singh on 15. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves and still need to put the ball in the right areas,” Steyn told a news conference.
“It’s a good pitch, it does a bit with the new ball and there’s a little swing, but you have to stay patient and concentrate on your own skills. There’s big bounce and it goes off the seam, but in these conditions everyone expects you to get wickets.” Laxman said any total in excess of 250 would be a good score.
