Two wickets in as many balls from fast bowler Morne Morkel just before the tea interval left the West Indies reeling at 59-2 in reply to South Africa’s 417-8 declared on day three of the second Test at St George Park yesterday.
South Africa had battled for wickets early in the West Indies innings, but Morkel found the right length for the double-strike, much to the relief of the home side.
After striking Devon Smith (22) a sickening blow on the helmet, Morkel claimed his wicket — caught at first slip by Hashim Amla with a delivery that moved away from the lefthander off the wicket.
Photo: AFP
A 26-ball half-century from Dale Steyn had earlier carried South Africa to a declaration at 417-8.
The West Indies had claimed four wickets in the morning as the tourists enjoyed their best session of the series so far, but Steyn hammered 45 runs in 18 balls after lunch, before his dismissal brought South Africa’s declaration.
Steyn hit five sixes and six fours in a 28-ball innings that was finally ended when he hit Sulieman Benn to long-on to depart for 58.
One of those sixes took him to his half-century in 26 deliveries — the joint fourth fastest in Test history and the second fastest by a South Africa player.
The blitz gave South Africa the quick runs it was looking for after just six overs were bowled on a rain-hit second day.
Overnight batsmen Hashim Amla and A.B. de Villiers were dismissed in the fourth and fifth overs of the day, with Amla trapped leg before wicket by Jason Holder for 33 and De Villiers bowled by Jerome Taylor for 10.
That brought newcomer Temba Bavuma together with fellow rookie Stiaan van Zyl, but the 21-run alliance lasted just 10 overs before Shannon Gabriel surprised Bavuma with a short ball and had him caught behind by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for 10.
Steyn had far more success, scoring 13 runs from his first 10 balls to take South Africa to lunch on 369-7, before taking Jerome Taylor and Sulieman Benn apart after the break to put the home side on the front foot.
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