Steyn was the chief tormentor against Pakistan with 11 wickets in the match as the tourists struggled to handle his fiery spells. PHOTO: AFP
JOHANNESBURG:
Dale Steyn struck with the second new ball to secure a 211-run win for South Africa before lunch on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium yesterday.
Steyn dismissed overnight batsmen Asad Shafiq and Misbahul Haq inside his first three overs with the new ball to sweep away the last serious resistance by the tourists.
He also took the last two wickets to finish with five for 52 and match figures of 11 for 60.
He became the first player in Test history to make a century and claim ten or more dismissals in a match after hitting an unbeaten 103 in the second innings.
Graeme Smith, captaining a South African Test side for the 100th time, said his men had achieved a peak of excellence on the second day when they bowled out Pakistan for 49 and then stretched their lead beyond 400 with solid batting.
“Day two was the standard,” he said. “We reached the height that we can achieve as a team. Staying at that level was the challenge. To keep backing up performances is the key for us. We have to focus on keeping standards high.”
Shafiq’s dismissal ended a stubborn fifth wicket stand of 127 with Misbah. The pair added 20 runs to the overnight total of 183 for four in the five overs that had to be bowled before the new ball could be taken. Only another four runs were added before Steyn had Shafiq caught at second slip by Jacques Kallis for 56 in the third over with the new ball. Shafiq had faced 168 balls and hit nine fours
In his next over Steyn had Pakistan captain Misbah caught behind for 64, made off 167 balls with 11 boundaries.
Sarfraz Ahmed chopped a ball from Vernon Philander on to his stumps and Saeed Ajmal provided De Villiers with his tenth catch of the match when he gloved a lifting ball from Morne Morkel to the wicketkeeper. Steyn had Gul caught behind and then trapped Junaid leg before wicket with the fourth ball of the last over before lunch.
Misbah said Pakistan needed to find a way to deal with South Africa’s fast bowlers.
“We have to give credit to the South African bowlers, especially Steyn. He took the game away from us,” said Misbah.
“We have to work on how to handle the new ball and the outswinging deliveries. We have to negotiate that well.”
The second Test will be played at Cape Town on February 14.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Usman
Cool down man. The Steyn part was a little banter. But I mentioned about the spinning track because your team was boasting about your spinners before the series. You are right I am not from Pakistan, but South Africa, just like Amla. Enjoying the victory. I love India, the land of my ancestors.
@rashid
I am sure you are NOT a pakistani. We people are generous enough to accept the defeat and highlight the core issues rather threatening cricketers at home or bashing them brutally in Media. The team is young and as the coach said "its a learning curve". Steyn bowled superbly undoubtedly and deserve to be praised. Btw its INDIA who would appeal first to banned fast bowlers as Pakistan's history is seriously rich in producing world class bowlers as Waseem, Waqar, Shoaib, Gul, Imran Khan, Muhammad Sami, Muhammad Zahid, Muhammad Irfan etc ..
""He became the first player in Test history to make a century and claim ten or more dismissals in a match after hitting an unbeaten 103 in the second innings.""
Is above info correct as only one century in test match scored by AB DE VILLIERS not Steyn.........
Pakistan has good batsmen against mediocre teams and on docile pitches. However on fast wickets and moving balls their record is terrible. In their second tour of England they lost 0-4 each with huge margins and in quick time. The fifth test was mostly washed out. After that Pakistan did not get a 5 test tour of UK. These are the type of matches and wickets which separates men from boys. Pakistan needs batsmen in the mold of Hanif, Mushtaq, Miandad, Inzama, M. Yousuf or a young Younus Khan who could stay at the wicket under all conditions.
Botham scored a century and took 5 wickets in an innings in the same Test match on 5 occasions; no-one else has managed this feat more than twice. In 1980, playing against India, he became the first player to score a century and take ten wickets in a Test match (Alan Davidson was the first to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in a Test but that did not include a century).
He became the first player in Test history to make a century and claim ten or more dismissals in a match after hitting an unbeaten 103 in the second innings. Sir Ian Botham has also scored a century and taken 10 wickets in the same Test, and that too against Pakistan.
Dale Styen should be banned. He bowls too fast, faster than the limit prescribed by ICC. Also South Africa prepares anti spinning tracks.