More on cricinfo : http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21827657/fitter-youngest-guysDale Steyn eased back into the longest format of the game on the opening day of the three-day tour match between Zimbabwe and the SA Invitation XI at Eurolux Boland Park on Wednesday.
He slotted very easily back into a rhythm that belied the fact that he had been inactive for more than a year with the nine overs he sent down in two spells in the first two sessions costing just nine runs.
By his own admission he did not crank up the speed gun and kept his short ball in the locker for next week’s test match, concentrating on bowling an immaculate line and length that saw him start his new-ball spell with 18 consecutive dot deliveries.
He had a confident appeal for a catch behind the wicket to his fourth delivery to Hamilton Masakadza turned down and then had a catch dropped at backward point to his 19th delivery that resulted in the first run that he conceded.
The important thing was that he came through his activity without feeling the slightest pain or niggle and he created another chance in his second spell with an inside edge by the left-handed Ryan Burls that evaded the keeper and went for the boundary that put three figures on the board.
Steyn clearly has a lot more ammunition in his tank which will no doubt be primed in the build-up to next Tuesday and the start of the pink ball test.
The seamers were not helped by a pink ball that went soft very quickly. There was nevertheless a lot to like about the first change seamer, Tladi Bokako, while the experienced franchise legspinner, Shaun von Berg, was as effective and reliable as ever
Looks like it. Maybe in the dinner break.Did Dale give a press conference mid-game or something? Came back for a 3rd spell just now.
Hope so.I have a good feeling about Steyn's comeback. I really hope he can give us a vintage home summer performance.
Although it seems to be more than just some good saving innings. It seems like almost every time he goes past 50 it'll have been a case of him coming in when the team was in trouble, as it was in this match when he came in at 9/2.Bavuma reminds me of Rhodes first half of his test career. Some good saving innings but simply not enough big scorers to justify selection.
I am jealous :PNice views at Boland Park. Watched a domestic D/N game there once and loved the evening sunset. Always been a nice little setting.
Great to see Cohen grab another chance in a fixture like this. Von Berg toiled and Williams rapped up the tail.
Pity none of the batsman like Hamza and du Plooy grabbed their chance like they did vs Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively.
Galiem scoring some nice runs here at the back end.
Nice, Im to old for that lol. I scurry under the shade at Newlands.Just got my tickets to sit in the sun and watch the game Boxing day.....
A cap, lots of sunscreen .... and enough beer not to mind. (Of course the next day is another story!)Nice, Im to old for that lol. I scurry under the shade at Newlands.