CAPE TOWN - Newlands stood up in unison to applaud Dale Steyn after the injured fast bowler came out to bat on another riveting morning in this action-packed first Test at Newlands.
Steyn had earlier been ruled out of the Test series against India, after seeing a foot and ankle specialist on Sunday. He will be reassessed in four to six weeks' time. He had sustained significant damage on his left heel in Cape Town.
Unfortunately for the local supporters that was all they had to cheer about as India’s pacemen wrecked havoc on the fourth morning. South Africa lost nine wickets for the addition of only 65 runs after resuming on 65/2.
The Proteas were ultimately skittled for 130, leaving India a victory target of 208 runs in five full sessions.
The wickets were shared equally with Bvuneshwar Kumar claimed 3/22, Jaspit Bumrah 3/39, Mohammed Shami 3/28 to go with Hardik Pandya’s 2/27 from Saturday evening. The entire third day was washed out on Sunday.
Hashim Amla set the conveyor bell moving in the Proteas dressingroom when he was first to go, caught in the gully off Shami. Nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada followed before Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis received an excellent delivery to sent packing for a duck.
Bumrah tore the heart out of the South African middle-order, with the debutant picking up Quinton de Kock too before closing off the Proteas innings when AB de Villiers was caught on the mid-wicket fence for 35.