South Africa's Bowlers Enjoy Good Workout Ahead Of First Test

Dale Steyn made the breakthrough for South Africa.

Daniel Bell-Drummond took the opportunity to find form ahead of the Under-19 World Cup.

South Africa's Bowlers Enjoy Good Workout Ahead Of First Test

Mike Powell was the only Kent batsman to offer any resistance in the afternoon.

©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic

Kent 210 (Powell 48no, Tahir 4-31) v
South Africans
Tour Match, Canterbury, day one

The South Africans fought back following a difficult first session to bowl Kent out for 210 on the first day of their second warm-up match ahead of Thursday’s first Test at The Oval. Stand-in Kent captain Sam Northeast and England Under-19 opener Daniel Bell-Drummond added 81 for the first wicket and played some delightful shots against what is expected to be the tourists’ bowling attack for the opening Test match. They were parted shortly before lunch, with Northeast falling for 35 to Dale Steyn. 

After the break, Kent lost Bell-Drummond and the out-of-form Ben Harmison in the space of half an hour, with young left-hander Alex Blake departing for nine to give Morne Morkel his second victim a little later. The talented Sam Billings then succumbed to JP Duminy’s off-spin for 13 to make it 146 for five and expose what is a very lengthy Kent tail.

That tail lived up to expectations and was routed by Imran Tahir, who claimed four of the last five wickets to fall, including that of Matt Coles for an aggressive 21 from 19 balls. Morne Morkel is another who will be pleased with his day’s work – his three for 49 a considerable improvement from the mauling that he endured earlier in the week at the hands of Somerset.

The South Africans faced 13 overs in their first innings and looked like they would survive unscathed, but former Nottinghamshire seamer Charlie Shreck picked up the prize scalp of Graeme Smith in the 11th over and they closed on 31 for one.

© Cricket World 2012