Dale Steyn removed both openers to leave New Zealand on 15-2, after the Proteas were bowled out for 263.
It was a frustrating first hour in Durban on day two of the first Test between the Proteas and the Black Caps, as intermittent rain forced another delayed start. Eventually play got underway and the hosts added a handy 27 runs to their overnight total before the final two wickets fell. Two early breakthroughs, thanks to Steyn, left the Proteas fairly satisfied going into the second session.
Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn strode out to the crease, but Steyn was forced to walk back pretty soon after, as he couldn’t add to his two, clean bowled by Tim Southee for his first ever wicket against South Africa.
Rabada then annoyed the tourists as he struck several boundaries on his way to a Test-best 32. Dane Piedt contributed nine before edging one behind for Trent Boult’s third wicket. The Proteas would have hoped for more, but with the ball swinging around it was very much game on.
Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn, boasting a combined 86 wickets from 14 matches against New Zealand, took new-ball duties and bowled their first Test overs in 2016. Philander should have found the breakthrough in his second over.
Tom Latham, on three, nicked one behind to Dean Elgar at second slip, only for it go straight through his hands to give the Kiwi opener a lifeline. Steyn was arguably bowling with more threat and intent than Philander, and sure enough it wouldn’t take long for him to get in on the act. Latham’s reprieve was short-lived as he edged one to Hashim Amla at first slip for four.
If that wasn’t good enough just before lunch, Steyn then took another one in his next over, trapping Martin Guptill lbw for seven. The new batsmen at the crease, skipper Kane Williamson (2) and Ross Taylor (2), will have a tricky session coming up.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpage Pix
