Steyn leads South Africa to victory
PORT OF SPAIN:
Fast bowler Dale Steyn starred again as South Africa secured a 163-run victory over West Indies in the opening Test.
Steyn collected three wickets for 65 runs from 15.3 overs, as West Indies, chasing 457 for victory, were bowled out for 293, just before the rescheduled close on the fourth day at Queen’s Park Oval.
The South African quick ended the match with figures of eight for 94 to earn the man-of-the-match award.
Steyn bowled Nelon Pascal off an inside edge for 10, when the West Indies tail-ender tried a flamboyant one-legged pull. Morne Morkel supported Steyn with two for 49 from 12 overs, while left-arm spinner Paul Harris took two for 91 from 26.3 overs.
“Our bowlers were running on fumes there at the end, and it was not made any easier for us with them struggling with the run-ups from one end, and a soft landing,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith. “It was another hot day, and we have had to work a little bit harder. The pitch was not conducive to really exciting Test match cricket. It was about a long, hard graft, and we did that well, and we have won in three and a half days.”
The South Africans had declared on 206 for four in their second innings an hour and 20 minutes before lunch, after Smith had fallen for the top score of 90. The Proteas then sweated through the remainder of the day to condemn West Indies to their third straight defeat at their hands at this ground, despite a top score of 73 from West Indies captain Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo’s enterprising 49, and Sulieman Benn’s entertaining 42.
“It’s stating the obvious that our batting was again the main problem, and getting 102 in the first innings always put us on the back-foot,” said Gayle. “I thought we started fairly well on the first day, but we allowed things to slip away, and things gradually got better for South Africa.”
Published in the Express Tribune, June 15th, 2010.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn starred again as South Africa secured a 163-run victory over West Indies in the opening Test.
Steyn collected three wickets for 65 runs from 15.3 overs, as West Indies, chasing 457 for victory, were bowled out for 293, just before the rescheduled close on the fourth day at Queen’s Park Oval.
The South African quick ended the match with figures of eight for 94 to earn the man-of-the-match award.
Steyn bowled Nelon Pascal off an inside edge for 10, when the West Indies tail-ender tried a flamboyant one-legged pull. Morne Morkel supported Steyn with two for 49 from 12 overs, while left-arm spinner Paul Harris took two for 91 from 26.3 overs.
“Our bowlers were running on fumes there at the end, and it was not made any easier for us with them struggling with the run-ups from one end, and a soft landing,” said South Africa captain Graeme Smith. “It was another hot day, and we have had to work a little bit harder. The pitch was not conducive to really exciting Test match cricket. It was about a long, hard graft, and we did that well, and we have won in three and a half days.”
The South Africans had declared on 206 for four in their second innings an hour and 20 minutes before lunch, after Smith had fallen for the top score of 90. The Proteas then sweated through the remainder of the day to condemn West Indies to their third straight defeat at their hands at this ground, despite a top score of 73 from West Indies captain Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo’s enterprising 49, and Sulieman Benn’s entertaining 42.
“It’s stating the obvious that our batting was again the main problem, and getting 102 in the first innings always put us on the back-foot,” said Gayle. “I thought we started fairly well on the first day, but we allowed things to slip away, and things gradually got better for South Africa.”
Published in the Express Tribune, June 15th, 2010.