Dale Steyn inspires South Africa fightback against India

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Dale Steyn

The paceman took 6-100 as India were all out for 334 having been in a strong position at 181-1 at stumps on day one of the decisive Test at Kingsmead.

Rain in Durban ensured no play was possible in the morning session, but a fired up Steyn wasted no time in making an impact when the action resumed after an early lunch break as he took three wickets in 10 balls.

The 30-year-old was at his hostile best throughout the day and soon reduced the tourists to 199-4 by dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara (70),  Murali Vijay (97) and Rohit Sharma (nought).

Virat Kohli (46) and Ajinkya Rahane (51 not out) steadied the ship before the impressive Morne Morkel (3-50) accounted for the former and Steyn claimed another two wickets after JP Duminy (1-10) had seen off Ravindra Jadeja.

Morkel finished off the innings, then Alviro Petersen (46 not out) and skipper Graeme Smith (35no) moved South Africa on to 82 without loss at stumps.

Steyn was this week replaced by team-mate Vernon Philander (0-56) as the highest ranked Test bowler in the world but it was difficult to see how on this evidence.

The 30-year-old whipped up blistering pace when play resumed after an early lunch was taken due to rain and Pujara was peppered with short balls before being caught behind to become Steyn's first victim.

Vijay fell just short of his first Test century outside India when he was also caught by AB de Villiers down the leg side and India suffered a further blow when Rohit was bowled after inexplicably playing no stroke to his first ball to leave Steyn on a hat-trick.

Kohli and Rahane were given a working over by the South Africa quicks, but steadied the ship with a fifth-wicket partnership of 66 before Kohli was caught behind down the leg side off Morkel.

The resilient Rahane and MS Dhoni (24) put on 55 for the sixth wicket but they collapsed again Steyn struck again to get rid of the skipper.

A promising 320-5 soon became 322-8 as Duminy had Jadeja (nought) caught by the retiring Jacques Kallis at slip, then De Villiers produced a sharp catch to dismiss Zaheer Khan (nought) and give Steyn his richly deserved five-wicket haul.

De Villiers took his fifth catch to get rid of Ishant Sharma (four) and leave Steyn with a six-wicket haul, then Morkel finished off the innings by accounting for Mohammed Shami (one).

India were unable to hit back with the ball as Smith and Petersen made a positive start to South Africa's reply.

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