Cricket
Steyn rips India apart
2010-02-08 11:41
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Nagpur - Proteas speedster Dale Steyn has wreaked havoc with the Indian batting line-up on day three of the first Test against India in Nagpur on Monday
India were dismissed for 233 shortly after tea with Steyn recording his best-ever Test figures of 16.4-6-51-7.
Proteas skipper Graeme Smith enforced the follow-on with India 325 runs adrift of South Africa's first innings of 558/6 declared.
Earlier, Virender Sehwag cracked a fine century under pressure before South Africa hit back to reduce India to 221/4 at tea.
The explosive opener hit 15 fours in his 109-run knock and shared 136 runs for the fourth wicket with debutant Subramaniam Badrinath after India were reeling at 56-3 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur.
Sehwag was dismissed shortly after reaching his 18th Test century when he sliced a wide-ish delivery from paceman Wayne Parnell (1-31) to cover where Jean-Paul Duminy took a well-judged catch.
Badrinath (56 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (six) were the two not out batsmen at the break.
India faced an uphill task of saving the match as they trail South Africa by 337 runs with six wickets in hand, with another 138 runs needed to avoid the follow-on.
The Indians would have been in deeper trouble but for Badrinath and Sehwag, who batted with a mix of caution and aggression during his 139-ball knock.
Badrinath overcame a nervous start to complete his half-century off 123 balls and had hit seven fours so far.
He proved a perfect foil for Sehwag, who twice hit Morne Morkel (1-58) for fours and did not spare Dale Steyn (2-48) either.
Replying to South Africa's first innings 558-6 declared, India were off to a disastrous start, losing their three top-order wickets inside the first hour.
Steyn got rid of Sachin Tendulkar (seven) and Murali Vijay (four) after Morkel had dismissed Gautam Gambhir (12) to reduce the hosts to 119-3 at lunch.
Gambhir, coming into the series with eight centuries in his last 11 Tests, was out off the first ball he faced when he was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher after poking at an away-going delivery.
Vijay, playing only his fourth Test, was surprised by a searing delivery from Steyn that moved in off the seam to clip his off-stump.
Steyn struck again within five overs when he had Tendulkar caught by Boucher. Tendulkar tried to drive but ended up offering an outside edge.
The second and final Test between the world's top two teams begins in Kolkata on February 14.
South Africa can snatch back the number one Test ranking from India if they win the series while the hosts need just a draw to remain on top.