Steyn takes 4 as Proteas take lead against Lanka
Durban, Feb. 14: Fast bowler Dale Steyn took four wickets as South Africa claimed a 44run first innings lead at tea on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead on Thursday.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 191 with an early tea taken when the last wicket fell.
Steyn took four for 48. He was denied a 27th Test five-wicket haul during a 10-over postlunch spell when tailender Kasun Rajitha gloved him to gully but Dean Elgar spilled a simple chance.
Steyn took his career tally to 437 Test wickets, passing India's Kapil Dev (434) and drawing level with Stuart Broad of England in joint seventh place on the alltime list.
Kusal Perera topscored for Sri Lanka with an aggressive 51 off 63 balls. When he was caught at deep cover off Steyn an early end to the innings seemed likely.
But Lasith Embuldeniya and Rajitha defied the bowlers for 55 minutes, adding 32 for the ninth wicket despite being subjected to numerous short-pitched deliveries.
The stand was eventually ended when Rajitha was run out by sharp fielding by Aiden Markram at short leg when he strayed out of his crease while playing a defensive shot.
Test debutant Embuldeniya was struck several times before he was last man out for 24.
Sri Lanka were 133 for six at lunch, still 102 runs behind South Africa's first innings total of 235. They lost five wickets in adding 84 runs during the morning. Steyn and Philander did the early damage, taking three wickets in the first ten overs of the morning, before fellow fast bowlers Duanne Olivier and Kagiso Rabada followed up with a wicket each. Steyn struck in the third over of an overcast day when Oshada Fernando went across his stumps and was given out leg before wicket for 19. Brief scores: South Africa 235 & 126/4 in 37 overs vs Sri Lanka 191 in 59.2 overs (K. Perera 51, Steyn 4/48, Philander 2/32).