Rain delays second day of first South Africa, New Zealand Test

Dale Steyn marked his return to the worldwide game with two early wickets to give South Africa a much-needed boost on the second morning of the first Test against New Zealand at Kingsmead.

Shortly, the play was called off for the day with South Africa’s score at 236 for eight from 77.4 overs.

He was also happy that stand-in South African captain Faf du Plessis made a decision to bat in what were always likely to be challenging conditions. We need to challenge each other every day, from the coaching staff right through to the guy carrying the drinks. “He’s a world-class swing bowler”.

Fellow left-armer, Neil Wagner, also chimed in with three wickets, making effective use of a short-pitching strategy, while left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner, struck two telling blows when he dismissed both Quinton de Kock and Bavuma in the space of three deliveries.

He came back after lunch to end a fine innings of 53 by Hashim Amla.

Boult finished with figures of three for 52.

Unfortunately, rain is expected on Day 2, so we may not get a full day again.

New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a Test series and they were soundly beaten in two Tests when they last toured the republic in 2013.

As one of the straightest talkers in cricket, South Africa’s Dale Steyn is not about to hide his likely demotion among the game’s most fearsome fast bowlers.

Philander almost made the initial breakthrough in the fourth over as he lured Latham forward outside off-stump, and the left-hander got a thick edge. “But one or two of us got out in ways that could have been avoided”.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said he would have opted to bowl had he won the toss.

“They have been playing good cricket and we will have to play well to beat them”.

“If I must be realistic about it, running in and bowling 145 kph all day when you haven’t done it for a long time is going to be really tough”, he said this week. Amla and JP Duminy, promoted to No. 4, put on 61 for the third wicket, Du Plessis and Bavuma 54 for the fifth and Bavuma and De Kock 48 for the sixth.

Guptill survived an appeal for leg before wicket off Steyn’s fourth ball of the innings when he was on 2.

“There’s good cloud cover and plenty of humidity in the air”, he said on yesterday. “He’s taken quite a few of those”. “He’s exceptional in that position”.