Steyn pegs back Eng on rain-hit day

The breakthrough achieved, Amla took Piedt off and brought back Steyn.

It was the delivery that accounted for both Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers on the second day, with both men feathering to the grateful Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.

England’s James Taylor plays a shot during the first cricket test match against South Africa in Durban, South Africa.

Seamer Steyn quickly rediscovered his usual venom and aggression to grab the wickets of England captain Alastair Cook and debutant Alex Hales.

“From our point of view we all got back in the change room and all our management thought it was a hundred percent out but I’m sure the South African change room would have thought it was not out”. “He’s got that ability”.

Spinner Moeen Ali bowled Faf du Plessis for two, the batsman dancing down the track but missing the ball which clipped the top of the bails.

Proteas opener Dean Elgar stood defiant with a fighting knock of 67 unbeaten after the Proteas started their innings badly as they were reduced to 14/2 inside seven overs.

Having won the toss and chosen to bowl, South Africa will have been hoping to dismiss England for under 200, especially considering the overhead conditions.

“He did exactly what was needed”, said Taylor.

Piedt’s first Test delivery in South Africa had turned, just enough to beat Root’s bat as he went back in the crease but not sufficiently to save him on review.

Again, Dar failed to give the wicket after Steven Finn saw an edge fly to Stokes at fourth slip.

It was an innocous short ball outside-off and Compton, who was looking to pull it away, only managed a faint bottom edge to hand the keeper a catch and depart for 85. The fielder appealed, but gestured that he wasn’t really sure if the ball had carried; the on-field umpires referred it to the TV umpire Bruce Oxenford who judged it not out.

But Broad refused to let the game slide, unsettling De Villiers with a frustrating line outside off stump then drawing the error with a perfectly-pitched leg-cutter.

South Africa were 137 for four at the close, still 166 runs behind England’s first innings total of 303. The tourists expected to make much better progress with their deep batting lineup. “We were just starting to reverse the ball towards the end of the day”.

Bairstow hit 41 from 56 balls with six fours as wickets fell around him.

“We always seem to say the next hour is very important”.

“We have certainly got to aim for a first-innings lead but that will be hard work”.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn each finished with four wickets, the former dismissing Stokes, Nick Compton, Moeen and Woakes to claim the pre-lunch momentum.