England set off at a great pace in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 343 on the second afternoon of the second Castle Lager Test at Kingsmead on Sunday. At tea, the visitors had 59 without loss, still trailing by 284 runs.
The highlight of the South African innings on Sunday was a sparkling cameo by number 10 batsman Dale Steyn, who made 47 off 57 balls as he shared a last wicket stand of 58 with Makhaya Ntini.
South Africa seemed likely to fall short of their desired target of 300 or more when Morne Morkel became finger-spinner Graeme Swann’s fourth victim.
Morkel was given out leg before wicket, and although he called for a review, the decision was upheld and Morkel was out for 23.
South Africa were still 15 runs short of 300 when Steyn and Ntini came together. England must have thought they would be off the field within minutes, but the tailenders frustrated the England attack for 47 minutes.
Steyn played the dominant role, while Ntini held up his end and gave his bowling partner the strike whenever possible. Steyn was close to his second Test 50 when he finally fell to England’s main strike bowler, James Anderson as he gloved the ball to wicketkeeper Matthew Prior. Steyn’s innings included three fours and three sixes — all three sixes coming off Swann.
The partnership between Steyn and Ntini was the third highest of the South African innings, and they were fastest to 50, with the milestone coming off 59 balls.
A year ago, Steyn was one of the heroes of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, when he took 10 wickets and scored an invaluable 76 to help South Africa win the Test and take an unassailable lead in the three-Test series against Australia.
Strauss appeared to find no demons in the pitch as he raced to his 18th Test 50 off 49 balls, including eight boundaries. His opening partner Alistair Cook was not out on eight. – Sapa