Stupendous Steyn rocks India
Dale Steyn put on a masterclass of fast bowling to topple India for 233 and confirm his status as the world’s premier bowler.
Day three belonged entirely to Steyn, who seemed to have supernatural control over the direction the ball would veer through the air, while the India batsman were left wishing for supernatural intervention to rescue them from the massacre.
Steyn’s extraordinary spell in the third session of play – in which he took five wickets for just three runs in five overs to finish with figures of 7-51, his first two scalps coming in the morning session when he sent Sachin Tendulkar packing with a superlative outswinger that brushed the edge of his bat, and accounted for Murali Vijay, who’ll be lamenting his decision to shoulder-arms one that tracked backed appreciably – forced India to follow on. At the close of play they were in desperate trouble at 66-2, still 259 runs behind.
Spare a thought for Virender Sehwag, who crafted a characteristically aggressive century (109 from 139 deliveries). However, outside of 136-run stand between the India opener and Subramaniam Badrinath, the hosts’ scorecard looks decidedly woeful – Gautum Gambhir the only other batter to get into double figures.
Sehwag’s departure, thanks to a careless waft at a wide Wayne Parnell delivery, signalled the outset of a dramatic capitulation – 192-4 becoming 233 all out in the space of 18 overs.
Paul Harris got a delivery to bounce fiercely out of the rough outside MS Dhoni’s leg stump and brush the India captain’s glove en route to Jacques Kallis at slip.
Cue the Steyn Show.
He had Badrinath caught at mid-wicket, before pinning back Wriddhiman Saha’s off stump with a sublime 140.7 kph reverse-swinging delivery. Zaheer Khan then fell to 141.8 kph gem, tailing in once more and catching the inside edge before smashing into the sticks.
Amit Mishra took his seat in the pavilion two overs later, this time it was a 143.9 kph rocket that again kissed the inside edge and mangled the furniture. Finally, Harbhajan Singh’s resistance ended when he was wrapped on the pads by a delivery that defied physics in its flight path – swinging from well outside off stump.
After a brief consultation with his team, captain Graeme Smith enforced the follow-on with a 325-run lead, and soon India were reeling once more.
Morné Morkel accounted for Gambhir with a ball that swung into the left-hander and rocked his off stump – Gambhir not offering a shot. Steyn wasn’t done, and profited when Sehwag flashed wildly at an unthreatening delivery, nicking off to first slip.
Tendulkar holds the key to India’s fortunes, but even the most optimistic India supporter would be reluctant to back the little master to not only wipe out the deficit (with the aid of a partner who is equally skilled and resolute), but also set the Proteas a competitive target.
Unless India stage an impossibly brilliant fight back only one result looks likely at this point.
South Africa (1st innings) – 558-6 declared
Hashim Amla 253, Jacques Kallis 173, AB de Villiers 53, Zaheer Khan 3-96.
India (1st innings) – 233
Virender Sehwag 109, Subramaniam Badrinath 56, Dale Steyn 7-51
India (2nd innings) – 66-2
Murali Vijay 27, Sachin Tendulkar 15
For full scorecard click here
India trail by 259 runs with 8 wickets remaining
By Ryan Vrede
February 8th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
@WP_: vehemently agreeing with kerneels does not miracously transfer his supposed knowledge of cricket to your brain. Calm down
February 8th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
151 Pearl Rose
He shares cricket knowledge of a similar ilk to mine.
Pipe down there Pearl
February 8th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
OMG!
This WP_ dude is a real piece of work.
Harris was interviewed the day before the test and admitted that he needs to improve… One woul d swear he is as good Shane Warne the way you are punting him…
February 8th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Best bowling performance of the last 5 years.
If we can get rid of Tendulkar and Dhoni before lunch then the game is as good as won. But I have a feeling Tendulkar might be wearing his “Genius” cap tomorrow so We need ti get rid of him while the ball is new.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
so get rid of the lily white poodle quota coach and suddenly this Team seems to find a new lease of life and starts shooting from the top drawer. Lil Mick seems to have been the fly in the ointment all along.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
@skopskiet: Typical. Yet more unsupported assertions without any knowledge of the internal team dynamics, planning, etc etc.
Well done Smith et al !
February 8th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
well what would I know about internal team dynamics except that what seems pretty obvious is that as soon as the shackling constraints placed over the team by an inept and very ordinary quota coach are removed suddenly the team as a whole starts functioning on a whole new other level. Should have gotten rid of the overrated lil quota coach long before now and perhaps the sky would have long time ago been the limit.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Kepler a tough man….perhaps him,Vincent Barnes and Corrie are the right mix ….
Glad they called up Charl Langeveld as well….
Amla and Steyn producing really stunning performances….and lets not forget King Kallis.
Just get Tendulkar early…..its never over with players like him and Dhoni still in the mix.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
@grant10: Hey G10, you’ve been quiet today…very hard to get an argument going when you’re not here, so I had to go pick on some AB’s…they’re as easy to rub the wrong way as the Bulls and you on John Smit…..good to see ya old boyeeeee.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Hey grant10
Did u notice Smit’s Bok contract was renewed for a further 2 years?? Bissie only gets a 1 yr contract. Hmmm, interesting!!
February 8th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
@skopskiet:
Proteas won the previous test match….with the same lilly white quota coach.
And under him South Africa got no.1 status as well winning in england and oz for the first time in 40 odd years.
keppler is also lilly white by the way.
Gary kirsten is the lilly white coach of india….is he also a quoat because india have been getting hammered for the first 3 days regardless of them currently holding no.1 status?
what a vindictive all round poor south african you are.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
@wpw:
…they know the fabtabulous Gary Botha is back, that’s why.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
@skopskiet: evening Skop. you lost me there bud. Quota coach? Arthur? Am I on the wrong page?
February 8th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Oh dear.
Gary Botha… Lol
February 8th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Just by the way is it impossible for a white to be a quota.
By definition a quota is a player who wouldnt normally be in the side but others factors such as race are keeping him in the side/forcing to be picked.
It is only done to get more colourful faces in the side to appease politicians and quite frankly it pisses me off.
As a black man myself it is just degrading and cheapens black sportsmen
February 8th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Did you hear Neil McKenzie was sacked as captian of the Highveld Lions…
February 8th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
@wpw:
did he do a Zuma and have a baby out of wedlock with Gerald Mojolas daughter?
February 8th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl:
….talk about being held to a different standard.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
just sorry Neil, everything will be “A” ok then.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Wasnt sacked at all. He’s just signed a contract for Hampshire and they thought it would be better for new leadership to take over.
He’s served his dues at that franchise that’s for sure. He’s captained since 2004
February 8th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Zuma is a bloody disgrace and an embarrassment for us blacks
February 8th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Plus there have been some disagreements in the Lions camp.
No surprise that the new captain is of colour
February 8th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
@skopskiet:
Of course, the facts tell you Mickey was appointed by the quota CEO, Gerald Majola, because Smiffy wanted someone he could maniupulate.
But then you’ve never been one to be weighed down by facts.
I suggest you aim your ire in the right direction, Skop. His name is Gerald Majola.
I do agree, though, that Arthur was useless.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:50 am
@wpw: I’ve yet to meet any bowler at any level who does NOT see the need for him to improve. The day I meet such a man, I’ll know I’ve met a crazy delusional egomaniac.
ALL bowlers always need to improve. Harris is no different. But Harris has a very good test analysis by world standards: superb, team-leading economy and he regularly takes several top-order key wickets. He got a fifer in the 2nd test against England, for instance — winkling out the top order with flight, guile, and subtle variation rather than just out-and-out mega-spin off the deck. And his deliveries are all non-chucking and legal, unlike Botha who chucks.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Thabiso
Stop pretending to be ‘black’
I too can reister my nick as ‘Johan’ and pretend to be an Afrikaner… Idiot!!
February 9th, 2010 at 5:59 am
@wpw:
Stop being yourself. It isn’t working for us either…
February 9th, 2010 at 6:31 am
@TheTackler:
The Proteas seven wickets for 41 runs needs very little improvement Pilgrim.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:22 am
You could improve to 7 wickets for 25 runs, bub.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Stephen Jefferies once took all 10 wickets in a test innings.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:46 am
@TheTackler:
I remeber that, i think I was at that game.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@TheTackler: all 10…in a proper test match?
When…
February 9th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
It was obviously a first class game seeing that he played no tests
February 9th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
@TheTackler:
Yes, and so did James Laker in 1956 against Australia…in a Test!
And he took 19 wickets in both innings…still a record for best Test bowling:
James Laker, 19/90!
February 9th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Mario Olivier got all 10 sticks in an innings in a SuperSport series game a season or two ago..
February 10th, 2010 at 3:57 am
@WP Till I Die: Proves my point: ALL bowlers — especially test bowlers — ought to adopt the “I should do even better” attitude.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:58 am
Jefferies played “tests” in the rebel series era.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:54 am
@WP_: 150
I don’t know if you have a reading problem but this is some of what Kerneels said in p148 re Harris’ season:
“Like any cricket who goes slightly off the boil,…”
“If he doesn’t get it back in a reasonable time, but all means drop him, but to do so after one mediocre series would be foolish and unfair.
Both these statements indicate to me that Harris’ performance this season was not as good as it can/should be in comparison with his overall performance.
Now, what was it that I said that got our resident cricket expert WP_ spewing foam around the corner of his mouth. Let me see:
74
WP
I don’t know why you have your panties tied in a knot re this Harris issue. I was merely responding to Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince’s statement “Its not about race. Its about performance.” regarding his choice of nic. You really can’t tell me that Harris performed well this season.
89
I agree with you that his overall record is decent, but as far as this season is concerned, he should be included in that other guys’ name as a below average performer.
Compare that to your analysis of Harris’ season.
It went from “not bad” (37) to “well” (76) to “solid” and “pretty good” (142)
How is it that you agree with Kerneels if he says Harris has underperformed this season yet you disagree with me if I say the same?
@TheTackler:
Jefferies took 10 for WP against OVS, if my memory serves me correctly. It was not in a “test” against the rebels.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@WP
“stats monger”
Well, well, well.
Isn’t it just ironic. I remember you producing Neil McKenzie’s stats of two/three year ago against WI, Eng and Bangladesh when you were on your crusade to have him included in the test team ahead of Prince.
You are a joke.