Rain spoils Steyn’s impressive comeback

South African claims two wickets before heavy showers stop play with New Zealand 15-2

DURBAN: Dale Steyn, playing in his first Test match in more than eight months, struck two early blows for South Africa before rain prevented any play after lunch on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at Kingsmead yesterday.

New Zealand were 15-two, 248 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 263, when play ended for the day.

Steyn, who had failed to complete the only two Tests he had played in South Africa’s last eight matches because of groin and shoulder injuries, had Tom Latham caught at first slip by Hashim Amla for four off the second ball of his fourth over.



Bowling in helpful, heavily overcast conditions, he followed up in his next over with a full in-swinger which trapped Martin Guptill leg before wicket for seven.

Steyn took two wickets for three runs in six overs.

It took New Zealand ten overs to take South Africa’s remaining two wickets after rain delayed the start by 50 minutes.



Tim Southee struck with the eighth ball of the day when he bowled Steyn before South Africa had added to their overnight total of 236-8.

Kagiso Rabada and Dane Piedt added 27 runs for the last wicket despite New Zealand taking the second new ball, which enabled Southee and Trent Boult to gain extravagant movement in the overcast conditions.

Rabada, who was dropped by Southee at third slip off Boult when he had 16, battled his way to an unbeaten 32 before Piedt was last man out, caught behind off Boult for nine.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2016.

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