IND vs SA test 2: Steyn reduce India to 183/6 on day one
Durban : Indian batsmen again stumbled on a fast track as Dale Steyn took four wickets to reduce the visitors to 183 for six in the first innings at stumps on a rain marred day one of the first Test at Kingsmead Stadium here on Sunday.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was batting on 20 and Harbhajan Singh 15 as players left the field after just three overs into the final session due to fading light. Play also started an hour late due to rain.
Steyn dismissed openers Virender Sehwag (25) and Murali Vijay (19) before lunch, and then picked up Rahul Dravid (25) and top-scorer V.V.S. Laxman (38) in the second session as India struggled on a green pitch after being put to bat by South African captain Graeme Smith.
Left-arm paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe also dismissed Sachin Tendulkar (13) in the very first over after lunch to finish with 2-28. India lost 4-94 in the middle session.
The only notable partnership of the day was the 38-run stand between Dravid and Laxman.
Dravid gloved a delivery from Steyn to Mark Boucher for the wicketkeeper?s 50th dismissal against India.
Laxman stroked four fours and a six over square leg before pulling Steyn toward wide mid-on, where Tsotsobe took a low catch as India slumped to 130-5.
Dhoni and Harbhajan took India within sight of 200, with Harbhajan sending a scorching cut shot to the boundary off Morne Morkel two overs into the final session.
India made three changes to its team from Centurion, with Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and experienced fast bowler Zaheer Khan coming in for Gambhir, Suresh Raina and Jaidev Unadkat. South Africa retained the same team, with Hashim Amla playing his 50th test at his home ground.
