Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stated that South Africa have “so much at stake” in the 4-match Test series towards his nation’s aspect, which begins in Durban on Saturday.
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Rain then forced a halt to proceedings and kept the players off the ground for over an hour, forcing an early lunch.
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Only six overs were completed in a morning session curtailed by rain, and Steyn had debutant Alex Hales caught behind for 10 in the first over after the break.
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“It’s been a few years out for Nick and myself so we really enjoyed batting and most importantly scoring runs for the team”, said Taylor.
Hashim Amla turned to Piedt in the 19th over and when he dismissed Root with his loosener it was hard to tell whether batsman or bowler was more surprised.
Again the Steyn celebration was unfurled, the eye-popping fist-pumps even more pronounced this time, as the leader of South Africa’s attack took his 404th Test wicket.
I thought Joe Root was a touch unfortunate to get the best ball Dane Piedt bowled all day first up, but that can happen.
And Taylor made it back-to-back half centuries in Test cricket to help England recover from 49 for three, although only after fellow Nottinghamshire team-mate Alex Hales failed to make an impact on debut.
England will resume on 179 for four and Steyn is in confident mood.
A sweetly-struck cover drive off Steyn and a crunching cut off Abbott highlighted Compton’s growing confidence, while Taylor reached his half-century shortly after thumping Piedt to the cover fence.
Steyn still had time to remove Cook, who sent a thick edge to Dean Elgar in the third over of the test.
Taylor had endured a similarly lengthy exile from the Test side from August 2012 before a combination of domestic form and consistent impressive displays in the England one-day side prompted a Test recall against Pakistan in November.
Steyn ended their resistance when he tempted Taylor to hang his bat out and feather an edge to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers right at the end of the day.
He said: “It’s never ideal getting out, but so late in the day and with it getting dark, it was frustrating to say the least”.
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Hales’ wicket left England 12-2, but Compton was joined at the crease by Root, who has so often been England’s saviour from perilous situations early in their innings, notably during this summer’s Ashes series win over Australia.
