A promising morning by the Proteas was halted by rain on day two of the first Test against New Zealand in Durban.
Play started almost an hour later than scheduled due to intermittent rain, before the players were forced off 15 minutes before lunch. A combination of poor light and fleeting showers meant the 2 500-plus crowd only witnessed 22 overs of action, prompting further concerns behind the logic of Durban hosting its first ever Test match in August.
The Proteas added 27 runs to their overnight 236-8 before they were bowled out. Then Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander proved how much they’ve been missed with the new ball, causing the Kiwi top order all sorts of problems as Steyn removed both of the openers.
Dale Steyn didn’t add to the two runs he scored in the evening session on day one, but Kagiso Rabada restored a bit of parity to his side’s shaky display on Friday with a Test-best 32, who, along with Dane Piedt (9), got them to 263.
So far that total looks to be a competitive one as New Zealand go into day three on 15-2. Tom Latham, on three, was dropped in the slips by Dean Elgar off Philander’s bowling, but it didn’t prove costly as the young opener could only score a single before he offered a chance in the slips again, this time Hashim Amla grabbed on to hand Steyn his first Test wicket of 2016.
Philander bowled excellent lines and had the batsmen playing and missing throughout the six overs he bowled. It would be Steyn to get his second wicket, however, trapping Martin Guptill plum lbw for seven.
New Zealand’s two most experienced batters Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor will look to get their side out of trouble in the morning session on Sunday, providing the weather doesn’t have the final say again.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpage Pix
