Pace spearhead Dale Steyn rocked the Indian top-order taking three quick wickets within a space of 10 balls as South Africa reduced the visitors to 271 for five at tea, on the second day of the second cricket Test, after the proceedings resumed in the post—lunch session.

Steyn removed overnight not out batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (70), Murali Vijay (97) and Rohit Sharma (0) to reduce India to 199 for four in a space of five overs in which 18 runs were scored.

Virat Kohli (46) and Ajinkya Rahane (23 batting) added 66 runs for the fifth wicket before the in—form Kohli was dismissed by Morne Morkel just before the tea. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (0 batting) is giving Rahane the company.

While Steyn (3/87) made up for his poor show in the first Test with a three—wicket burst, Morkel (2/34) gave him good support.

Steyn had last taken a wicket in the first innings of the first Test at Johannesburg, when he had dismissed Shikhar Dhawan. Since then he bowled 69.2 overs giving away 217 runs before removing Pujara to end his barren spell.

Vijay (91 batting) and Cheteshwar Pujara (58 batting) wanted to further their 140—run partnership for the second wicket, and they both started off well. Despite the rain, the wicket still had nothing in it for the bowlers. But Steyn bowled a fiery, inspired spell, determined to break his wickets less spell.

The first chance came in the second over of the day, 63rd overall, as Vijay drove past gully for a streaky boundary, beating Alviro Petersen.

In Steyn’s next over, skipper Graeme Smith placed himself at that position and missed an even better chance, this time Pujara playing an uncharacteristic shot wide outside the off—stump. The ball went for four and brought up their long—awaited 150—run partnership.

Their stand was broken in the 67th over, when Steyn had Pujara caught behind driving the ball pitched outside the off—stump. Pujara scored 70 runs off 132 balls, with nine fours, putting up 157 runs with Vijay for the second wicket.

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