Steyn humbles India
Feb 08 2010 - 12:50:24
A fiery spell from South Africa paceman Dale Steyn sent India hurtling towards a heavy defeat on the third day of the first Test in Nagpur.
Steyn claimed wickets on either side of a dazzling century from Virender Sehwag (109), who shared a 136-run fourth-wicket stand with debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (56). The fast bowler finished with seven for 51 as India were bowled out for a measly 233 in the first innings.
With a sizeable lead of 325, the visitors enforced the follow-on and tightened the screw by removing both openers cheaply, leaving India with a mountain to climb.
Morne Morkel had produced the first breakthrough of the morning before Steyn stepped up to leave India reeling at 56 for three inside the first half-hour. Morkel, who provided admirable support to Steyn throughout the day, induced Gautam Gambhir (12) into a defensive shot with his first delivery of the morning, the opener flicking an edge to Mark Boucher.
Murali Vijay, occupying the injured Rahul Dravid's regular number three slot, was Steyn's first victim, the batsman embarrassingly bowled for four while shouldering arms. Steyn then saw off Sachin Tendulkar cheaply, luring the batsman into a drive on seven and securing the edge which went straight through to Boucher.
Sehwag reached his 18th Test century with a single off Jacques Kallis and his stay was laced with 13 fours. But the opener was well set when he threw away his wicket, chasing a ball pitched well outside off stump and spooned a catch to JP Duminy at deep cover.
Badrinath, who held up one end in a determined and vigilant manner, was joined by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and saw India to 221 for four at tea. However, Dhoni's dismissal for six in the first over of the final session sparked a dramatic and spectacular collapse.
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris scalped Dhoni with one that pitched in the rough outside leg stump, spun viciously across the batsman and brushed the gloves on its way to Kallis at slip.
Steyn accounted for Badrinath in the next over, the batsman lazily flicking a full-length delivery straight to Ashwell Prince at mid-wicket. The fast bowler then ran through the tail, adding the wickets of debutant Wriddhiman Saha (nought), Zaheer Khan (two), Amit Mishra (nought) and Harbhajan Singh (eight) to his name.
Graeme Smith enforced the follow-on and Morkel again dismissed Gambhir, the opener bowled for one while shouldering arms to a delivery that swung in, before Steyn picked up his eighth wicket of the day when Sehwag (16) slashed a delivery to Smith at first slip. India reached 66 for two at the close, needing another 259 runs to make South Africa bat again