CAPE TOWN – Dale Steyn left the field to go hospital to receive treatment and assess his bruised left heel on the second day of the first Test against India at Newlands.
Steyn bowled 17.3 overs and claimed 2/51 when he exited the scene on Saturday, with Vernon Philander completing the over.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya made South Africa pay for some sloppy fielding during the second session of the first Test at Newlands.
Pandya blasted a 46-ball half-century after being dropped by Dean Elgar in the gully on just 15 off Steyn’s bowling.
It was a crucial drop for India were 92/6 at that stage and even though Steyn did dismiss Saha with the very next ball, it was Pandya’s let-off that would prove crucial.
The flamboyant Indian all-rounder certainly made the most of his second life as he took a particular liking to Morne Morkel. Runs flowed from his bat as he shared an unbroken partnership of 93 runs for the eighth-wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (24 not out) to propel Indiato 185/7 at tea. Pandya was undefeated on 81 at the break.
South Africa had a further opportunity to send Pandya packing when Keshav Maharaj was finally brought into the attack in the 56th over. Pandya immediately attacked the left-arm spinner by smashing him over mid-wicket for six, but chanced his arm once too many times the every next ball.
But fortunately for Pandya, South Africa’s wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock completely misread the turn too and the chance went a begging.
Pandya made the Proteas pay immediately when he swept Maharaj to the mid-wicket fence for another boundary.
All of this was in contrast to how the session started.
After toiling away throughout the first session, Vernon Philander (3/33) struck with the very first ball after lunch when he had Cheteshwar Pujara caught in the slip cordon for 26.
Philander also picked up Ravichandran Ashwin for 12 which left India reeling at 81/6, with Steyn picking up Wriddhiman Saha.