If Allan Donald was the ‘White Lightning’, Dale Steyn deserves to be called the ‘Greased Lightning.’ How else can one define the excellence of a man who single-handedly decimated the Indians in their own den on a pitch that had buried the aspirations of bowlers, of all kinds, over the first two days?
Steyn’s supersonic post-tea spell — he took five wickets in 3.4 overs conceding just one run — helped South Africa dislodge India for 233 in the first innings on the third day of the first Test for the Jaypee Infratech Cup, in neighbouring Jamtha, on Monday.
At draw of stumps, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team were 66 for two in the second innings, still trailing by 259 runs, after Graeme Smith enforced the follow on. Murali Vijay (27) and Sachin Tendulkar (15) managed to arrest the fall somewhat after openers, Virender Sehwag (16) and Gautam Gambhir (1), were sent back to the hut.
Speed and swing are like fuel and fire. But what enhances Steyn’s achievements is that he pulled off his fast and furious act not on a seamer-friendly track of his homeland, but on a subcontinental pitch that produced individual scores of 253 and 173 the day before.
From getting the new ball to swing to effecting reverse movement with the old — Steyn was as loud as a lion on the day. The pacer recorded career-best figures of seven for 51 on the day. His new-ball partner, the lanky Morne Morkel, played an equally crucial role in unsettling the Indians.
After the first two days yielded just six wickets, day three, thanks to the industrious South Africans, saw 12 wickets tumble. Unfortunately, all were Indians.
Steyn’s light stood in stark contrast to the Indians’ darkness, despite a restrained century from Sehwag in the first innings. Gambhir, the No. 1 Test batsman in the world, registered the dubious record of being dismissed twice in a day of a Test match.
Source : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100209/jsp/sports/story_12083471.jsp
Steyn’s supersonic post-tea spell — he took five wickets in 3.4 overs conceding just one run — helped South Africa dislodge India for 233 in the first innings on the third day of the first Test for the Jaypee Infratech Cup, in neighbouring Jamtha, on Monday.
At draw of stumps, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team were 66 for two in the second innings, still trailing by 259 runs, after Graeme Smith enforced the follow on. Murali Vijay (27) and Sachin Tendulkar (15) managed to arrest the fall somewhat after openers, Virender Sehwag (16) and Gautam Gambhir (1), were sent back to the hut.
Speed and swing are like fuel and fire. But what enhances Steyn’s achievements is that he pulled off his fast and furious act not on a seamer-friendly track of his homeland, but on a subcontinental pitch that produced individual scores of 253 and 173 the day before.
From getting the new ball to swing to effecting reverse movement with the old — Steyn was as loud as a lion on the day. The pacer recorded career-best figures of seven for 51 on the day. His new-ball partner, the lanky Morne Morkel, played an equally crucial role in unsettling the Indians.
After the first two days yielded just six wickets, day three, thanks to the industrious South Africans, saw 12 wickets tumble. Unfortunately, all were Indians.
Steyn’s light stood in stark contrast to the Indians’ darkness, despite a restrained century from Sehwag in the first innings. Gambhir, the No. 1 Test batsman in the world, registered the dubious record of being dismissed twice in a day of a Test match.
Source : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100209/jsp/sports/story_12083471.jsp
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