Steyn strikes before rain ends play

South Africa, the top-ranked test nation before defeats by India and England saw them slide to sixth, return to the five-day format at Kingsmead today after a seven-month hiatus without injured skipper AB de Villiers and pace bowler Morne Morkel.

South Africa’s Stephen Cook avoids a short pitched delivery during the first day of the first test against New Zealand yesterday in Durban, South Africa. No further play was possible.

South Africa paceman Dale Steyn announced his return to the global game with two early wickets before rain wiped out the remainder of day two of the first test against New Zealand on Saturday.

At 33, questions had been asked Steyn’s ability to come back with anything like the impact that made him the long-time number one-ranked Test bowler.

De Kock and Bavuma rallied only for Santner to make his double strike and when Wagner then removed Vernon Philander the Kiwis were well on top before bad light caused a premature end to the day.

If there was a question that Steyn left unanswered in his brief spell, it was whether he could still bowl at speeds well in excess of 140kmh, but Langeveldt shrugged that off.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said he would have opted to bowl had he won the toss.

Steyn, playing his first test of 2016 after injury, had Tom Latham (four) caught by Hashim Amla at first slip, before trapping Martin Guptill (seven) leg before wicket.

Philander almost made the initial breakthrough in the fourth over as he lured Latham forward outside off-stump, and the left-hander got a thick edge.

Two balls later Bavuma missed a sweep against Santner and was leg before wicket for 46.

Earlier, the Black Caps needed 10 overs to take the final two Proteas’ wickets after the hosts resumed on 236 for eight following a 50-minute rain delay.

Wagner, 30, who left South Africa to play provincial cricket in New Zealand a decade ago, took the wickets of JP Duminy, stand-in captain Faf du Plessis and the swashbuckling Quinton de Kock to give the visitors the upper hand.

Rabada, who was dropped by Southee at third slip off Boult when he had 16, battled his way to an unbeaten 32 before Piedt was last man out, caught behind off Boult for nine. Boult finished the day with two for 42.