Sunday, August 1, 2010

Dale Steyn backed Graeme Smith’s decision to enforce the follow-on against India after assuring his captain he was still firing on all cylinders after producing a career-best seven for 51.

South Africa are eyeing victory after the right arm pace ace triggered a dramatic collapse for India on the third day of the
first Test in Nagpur, taking the last five wickets for three runs in 7.4 overs after tea to skittle the hosts out for 233.

India were chasing a massive first innings total of 558 for six declared at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, but Smith only forced the hosts to bat again after checking his awesome attack still had enough energy left.

“There was a huddle after the Indian first innings,” the speedster revealed.

“The batters came and told us that we were 300-odd runs ahead and if the bowlers had enough gas on tank to go on and bowl another 26-27 overs.

“We said, we were not finished yet and it would be good to take a couple of wickets in the second innings.

“We told them we had enough fuel in the tank,” the 26-year-old fast bowler added, before modestly sharing personal glory with his team-mates.

“We have been speaking about these kind of wickets.

“We wanted to adapt as quickly as possible. We hit the right areas with the same intensity.

“On some days you can bowl the best of your life and not pick wickets and then you have some days when you bowl and get wickets. That’s cricket for you.

“There was a ball change because the seam split open and we came back after tea and the ball looped around a bit. It was a good thing and worked in our favour,” he said.

Following on, India were tottering at 66 for two, trailing South Africa by a mammoth 259 runs with eight wickets in hand. Murali Vijay was on 27 with Sachin Tendulkar on 15 at stumps. And the world No.1 side will hope that pair can stay put for most, if not all, of today’s morning session.

Steyn had struck again in India’s second innings, sending Virender Sehwag back to the pavilion for 16 while Morne Morkel pegged back the off-stump of other opener, Gautam Gambhir for one.

One of the only positives for a reeling India side was the 109-run knock by Sehwag in the first innings, one of only three batsmen make double figures.

But the big-hitter admitted Steyn had made a big difference.

“We all are very disappointed with our performance,” Sehwag said. “We needed some big partnerships. But Steyn used the reverse swing very well. He was simply brilliant today.

“We will now try hard and fight back. We will give our 100 per cent to save the match.”