Rain ruins delightful swing-bowling day

New Zealand 15 for 2 (Williamson 2*, Taylor 2*, Steyn 2-3) trail South Africa 263 (Amla 53, Wagner 3-47, Boult 3-52) by 248 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details

It seemed the only thing Dale Steyn’s angry eyes did not have power over was the weather. While the grey clouds gave him swing, and he controlled it so well that South Africa’s total of 263 assumed excellent proportions, they also brought rain which allowed only 16 overs to be bowled on the second day at Kingsmead.

New Zealand were 15 for 2 at lunch and they stayed 15 for 2 when play was called off at tea time.

The day had begun a little late with South Africa’s tail batting. Trent Boult designed a beauty – away swing that almost bowled Kagiso Rabada around his legs. Tim Southee, playing his first Test in South Africa, kissed the top of leg stump. The man he dismissed, that old pro Steyn, took four balls when New Zealand batted to make clear his having played no Tests in eight months would only serve to embellish his legend. It was a fast-bowling fashion show in Durban.

Martin Guptill was distracted by a bevy of outswingers before one moved in and struck the front pad. Steyn whirled around, his veins popping and spit flying in appeal. Umpire Richard Illingworth calmly shook his head in response.

“Crack it open, boy,” leered the slip cordon. Tom Latham found himself ganged up on. Then he was sucked in by one …

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