Steyn Bowls South Africa Into Strong Position
South Africa celebrate the wicket of Michael Papps.
©REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Craig Cumming, who retired on 48 after being hit by Dale Steyn.
©REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
187 for 8 after 56 overs v
South Africa on day one in Centurion
South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0
Dale Steyn took four wickets as South Africa took a firm hold on the second Test match against New Zealand at Centurion before bad light forced play to end early.
New Zealand won the toss, chose to bat and made a good start before South Africa enjoyed the better of proceedings after lunch, picking up seven wickets and seeing opener Craig Cumming having to retire hurt.
Having shared in a half-century stand with Cumming, Lou Vincent (33) fell shortly after the interval, as he was unable to get hold of a Steyn bouncer with the ball looping up to Paul Harris at mid-wicket. Shortly after Cumming (48) had to retire hurt having been hit by a Steyn bouncer, Scott Styris was trapped in front for three by the pace bowler.
He won't bat again as he has a depressed fracture of the cheekbone and has been transferred to Johannesburg.
Ashwell Prince took an outstanding catch to get rid of Ross Taylor (17) to give Andre Nel his first wicket after Stephen Fleming (43) had decided to counter-attack, hitting Steyn for 14 runs in three balls.
That proved to be his downfall when he tried one shot too many, giving Prince his second catch at gully and Jacques Kallis his first wicket. Brendon McCullum (13) was caught by AB De Villiers on the stroke of tea with Nel the bowler.
There was to be no change in fortunes for New Zealand after tea when Mark Gillespie, making his Test debut, picked up a duck as he was trapped in front by the impressive Steyn, who bowled with pace and venom all day. Iain O'Brien departed the next ball, to another fine catch in the slips from Herschelle Gibbs.
Steyn, on a hat-trick, then delivered a poor delivery down the leg side having barely put a foot wrong all day. He has four for 42.
Early on, opener Papps added 26 with Cumming before a Makhaya Ntini delivery got big on him and he could only guide it to the waiting hands of Gibbs at slip having made nine.
Vincent, in the side in place of injured Jacob Oram and ill Kyle Mills, hit Paul Harris for a big six and pulled and drove powerfully as he added 62 with Cumming, who was subsequently dropped by Kallis at second slip when on 37.
South Africa named an unchanged side as New Zealand brought in Gillespie and Vincent in place of injured players Jacob Oram and Shane Bond.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB De Villiers, Mark Boucher (wk), Paul Harris, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn
New Zealand: Michael Papps, Craig Cumming, Lou Vincent, Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori (c), Mark Gillespie, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin
© Cricket World 2007
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