Steyn wrecks Kiwis as SA gain upper hand

Mumbai: The Kiwis had enjoyed a near-perfect three sessions on day one of the Johannesburg Test. Bundling South Africa out for a modest 226, New Zealand were in a position to call all the shots. Little did they know that on Day 2 they would reel in the red.

As if there was some strange devilry in the wicket, New Zealand capitulated for an abject 118. At the close of play South Africa were in a commanding position at 179/2.

Dale Steyn, who had filled the large boots of Shaun Pollock, vindicated his captain’s decision. Bowling with pace and fury, he tore through New Zealand’s top order with a match-winning spell of 5/34.

The Black Caps lost the plot in the morning session when they misplaced five wickets for 56 runs. At one stage they were 88/7, in danger of getting dismissed under 100. But a few crisp hits by Iain Obrien helped stave off that embarrassment.

The wicket had good bounce and carry but was by no means unplayable. Most of the batsmen looked at sea against the ball that kicked a little. Surprising, given that the Kiwis are accustomed to playing on such surfaces.

Only Stephen Fleming, who had relinquished his captaincy, stood tall among the ruins with a fighting 40. Makhaya Ntini got once to move across the left-hander and AB de Villiers plucked a low catch. Fleming had suffered bruises on his forearm, though he should be able to bat again.

Getting early wickets was the only way New Zealand could have stayed in the game. It looked like ‘game on’ after Herschelle Gibbs and captain Graeme Smith perished with just 20 on the board.

But South Africa’s run-machine Jacques Kallis (76), and Hashim Amla (85) displayed remarkable composure to see through stumps without further alarms.

Wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum will rue the dropped chance off Amla when he was on two. Skipper Daniel Vettori may not harp on that blip, for he knows that it is his batsmen who lost the plot.

Day One report

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