South Africa vs India 2013, 2nd Test: Dale Steyn wakes up from the slumber as SA fight back

Dale Steyn was simply unstoppable

Starting the day on 181/1, Dale Steyn’s six-wicket haul restricted India to 334 and in reply the Indian bowlers found little help on the wicket to end the day in a perilous position with the scoreboard reading 82/0 in 20 overs.

Dale Steyn, who started off from where he left the last evening, continued to keep the batsmen guessing by reversing the ball at high speeds. Cheteshwar Pujara (70) was the first to go, playing a loose shot to a half-volley outside off.

In the very next over, the 31-year-old pacer accounted for two more wickets as Vijay (97) guided a short delivery aimed at his ribs to AB de Villers and Rohit Sharma opted to leave a delivery that swung in to crash right onto the middle stump.

Virat Kohli, unruffled by what was happening at the other end and ably supported by Ajinkya Rahane, eased his way into the innings playing quality strokes all around the ground to put breaks on the advancements made by the home team.

The pair managed to add 66 runs for the fourth wicket before Morkel intervened to send Kohli back to the hut. Kohli, who had helped himself to a free flowing 46 off 87 deliveries, guided a harmless delivery to the wicketkeeper to bring forth a premature end to an innings that promised a lot.

Rahane remained unbeaten on 51 off 121 deliveries, taking body blows from Steyn while ducking to what he thought would sail past him, as Steyn ran through the lower order. Morkel wrapped up the innings by picking up Mohammed Shami, who was caught at slips.

In response, South African openers Graeme Smith (35* off 59) and Alviro Petersen (46* off 61) were in no troubles whatsoever against the Indian pacers as they coasted along merrily till the introduction of Ravindra Jadeja into the attack that brought some hope for the away team.

The left-arm spinner beat the bat of Peterson twice but was unlucky not to induce an edge off them. With the ball expected to reverse as it gets old and Jadeja bringing in some threat to support the pacers, India could have a far better day tomorrow than they did today.