Cricket Update: Steyn’s four wicket haul made India struggle on the first day of the second Test
Dale Steyn took 4 wickets for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 to destroy India’s hopes of making a huge first innings total on the first day of the second Test. India are already 1-0 down in the three match series and they were certainly hoping to come good in the second Test
match. But all their hopes of an early advantage were completely dashed out by the maverick South African bowler, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 for just 183 runs. It again proved the point
that India still has a long way to go when it comes to beating top teams in their own back yard. Indian batsmen were again quite vulnerable under seaming conditions and found it difficult to play the bouncy deliveries. Laxman was the highest scorer for the
Indians as he played a steady knock of 38 runs under Testing conditions.
India had a tricky start to their innings as the opening batsmen were not easy against the quality fast bowling. Both Morkel and Steyn were the main destroyers of India in the first Test match and both of them Tested the vulnerable Indian batting line-up
in their spells. Both the bowlers carried on their form from the first Test and again troubled the Indian batsmen with some quality stuff. Proteas were right on the money from the first ball and attacked the Indian openers from the start. Both the openers
clearly showed in their batting that they are finding it hard to play the opening spells and made many mistakes in their batting. Sehwag took number of blows from Morkel and Steyn, and both the bowlers tried to put Sehwag on the back foot from the start.
Sehwag fought back with some boundaries and tried to give some momentum to the Indian innings. But they don’t rate Steyn as the best bowler in the South African line up for nothing, as he made a strong comeback to dismiss Sehwag (25) with a beautiful outswinger.
It was a perfect delivery to the right hander as it was pitched up and tempted Sehwag to drive. Sehwag went for the drive but got an outside edge that flew straight to Kallis at slip position. M Vijay looked vulnerable in his batting and was not comfortable
against the swing bowling of Steyn. One over later, Steyn struck again for the Proteas when he dismissed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Vijay-c1867 for 19 runs. It was another classical delivery from Steyn as he again showed his master control over the out swingers. M Vijay had no choice but
to nick the delivery, giving an easy catch to the keeper.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid and Tendulkar contributed a brief partnership of 31 runs and added some stability to the total. Tendulkar looked confident from his previous innings of 116* but was not able to carry his good form in this innings and was dismissed for 25 runs.
It was the biggest wicket for South Africa as if he had stayed for some time than things would have changed pretty quickly for the Indian’s. A 38 run partnership for the 4th wicket developed between V Laxman and Dravid, and it did provide some hopes
of a good recovery from India. Both the batsmen took advantage of some inconsistent bowling from the bowlers and struck number of boundaries. But again, it was Steyn’s day after all, as he again produced one of his beautiful outswingers to get rid of Dravid
(25). The ball took a nick of Dravid’s bat which was comfortably taken by the keeper.
India were struggling at 117-4 and needed V Laxman to stay till the end. Laxman played well for his 38 and also hit a six of Steyn’s bowling. Steyn again struck for the Proteas, when Laxman played a misjudged pull shot of Steyn’s bowling which was caught
by Tsotsobe at mid wicket region. Five important players for India were send to the pavilion by the South African bowlers and a lot was on the shoulders of the lower order to place India’s total to some respect. Cheteshwar Pujara played some confident shots
before he was dismissed for 19 by Tsotsobe. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 and Harbhajan Singh carried the Indian innings to some safety to end their day on 183-6. The day completely belonged to Dale Steyn who took 4 vital wickets of India and did not allow them to be comfortable
in their batting.
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