Steyn goes past Kapil as South Africa stretch lead
DURBAN:DALE Steyn and his fellow fast bowlers enabled South Africa to gain an advantage over Sri Lanka on Day Two of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
Steyn took four for 48 as South Africa took a first innings lead of 44. They stretched their lead to 170 by reaching 126 for four at the close with Faf du Plessis (25 batting) and Quinton de Kock (15 batting), their last two recognised batsmen, at the crease.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 191 and were unable to build on a good first day when their inexperienced bowlers surprised the South African batsmen.
Steyn and Vernon Philander soon put their stamp on the game when Sri Lanka resumed at 49 for one, taking three wickets in the first ten overs of the morning.
Kusal Perera played some bold strokes in his 63-ball 51 run knock for Sri Lanka and the hosts were frustrated when a barrage of short-pitched bowling could not break a stubborn ninth wicket partnership of 32, the joint second-highest of the innings, between debutant Lasith Embuldeniya and Kasun Rajitha.
It was particularly frustrating for Steyn as he had already taken four wickets when Rajitha, on ten, gloved what looked a simple chance to Dean Elgar in the gully, only for the fielder to put it down.
Steyn took his career tally to 437 Test wickets, passing India’s Kapil Dev (434) and drawing level with Stuart Broad in joint seventh place on the all-time list.
With bright sunshine following the morning’s overcast conditions, the stage seemed set for South Africa to move into a commanding position as Markram struck the ball crisply in making 28 off 31 balls in an opening partnership of 36 with Elgar.
But Markram played one attacking shot too many when an attempted back foot force off Rajitha flew to Kusal Mendis at second slip. Three more wickets fell reasonably cheaply as South Africa’s top-order batting again proved fragile.
Hashim Amla edged Vishwa Fernando to gully before Embuldeniya dismissed Temba Bavuma with his left-arm spin bowling. Bavuma was leg before wicket for three when he missed a sweep and Elgar fell for 35 to a superb return catch when he skipped down the wicket and hit the ball hard but close enough for the bowler to take a reflex catch to his left.
Brief scores: South Africa 235 and 126 for four in 37 overs (Dean Elgar 35; Lasith Embuldeniya 2/36) v Sri Lanka 191 in 59.2 overs (Kusal Perera 51; Dale Steyn 4/48)