Steyn gets his 'frenemy' Kallis
Plays of the day from the IPL game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in Hyderabad
Abhishek Purohit
19-May-2013
File photo: Dale Steyn made good on his Twitter prophecy to topple Jacques Kallis • BCCI
The prophecy
This had been set up as a contest between two South African greats by the men themselves. Before the match, Dale Steyn attached a picture of Jacques Kallis to this tweet - "My enemy tonight!" Kallis replied with "What you mean tonight. Ain't I always?" Steyn signed off with "Haha, at the bar yes! Tonight u my Frenemy! #tightenurgrid". And true to his word Steyn would pick up his opposite number, off the first ball he bowled to him itself. Steyn unleashed a quick ball onto Kallis' pads. Kallis looked to flick it leg side over deep square-leg, but instead went to the fielder in the deep.
This had been set up as a contest between two South African greats by the men themselves. Before the match, Dale Steyn attached a picture of Jacques Kallis to this tweet - "My enemy tonight!" Kallis replied with "What you mean tonight. Ain't I always?" Steyn signed off with "Haha, at the bar yes! Tonight u my Frenemy! #tightenurgrid". And true to his word Steyn would pick up his opposite number, off the first ball he bowled to him itself. Steyn unleashed a quick ball onto Kallis' pads. Kallis looked to flick it leg side over deep square-leg, but instead went to the fielder in the deep.
The set-up
South Africa v South Africa was not over yet. In came Ryan ten Doeschate at the fall of Kallis, and Steyn gave him a torrid time. After leaking four leg-byes, Steyn beat the batsman on the cut with a pacy delivery. The third was banged in short of a length, and all ten Doeschate could do was get behind the line and bring it down. The fourth was a brutal lifter which came screaming at the throat. Ten Doeschate jumped, fended blindly and managed a fortunate single to square leg.
South Africa v South Africa was not over yet. In came Ryan ten Doeschate at the fall of Kallis, and Steyn gave him a torrid time. After leaking four leg-byes, Steyn beat the batsman on the cut with a pacy delivery. The third was banged in short of a length, and all ten Doeschate could do was get behind the line and bring it down. The fourth was a brutal lifter which came screaming at the throat. Ten Doeschate jumped, fended blindly and managed a fortunate single to square leg.
The sucker blow
After the workout Steyn gave him, ten Doeschate faced up to Amit Mishra next. Mishra and fellow legspinner Karan Sharma, had been all over the visiting batsmen, tying them down with legbreaks, googlies and topspinners. Mishra tossed one up generously wide outside off. Ten Doeschate, sensing an opportunity after the Steyn barrage, prepared to cut it. To his surprise, it was the googly and spun in sharply to strike him in front. Gone.
After the workout Steyn gave him, ten Doeschate faced up to Amit Mishra next. Mishra and fellow legspinner Karan Sharma, had been all over the visiting batsmen, tying them down with legbreaks, googlies and topspinners. Mishra tossed one up generously wide outside off. Ten Doeschate, sensing an opportunity after the Steyn barrage, prepared to cut it. To his surprise, it was the googly and spun in sharply to strike him in front. Gone.
The celebration
There was no guessing the length Steyn was going to bowl at Yusuf Pathan. A 147 kph bouncer arrived on target in the 19th over and had Yusuf ducking for cover. Yusuf knew what the next one would be. He was in position when a short one arrived outside off, and pulled it for a flat six over deep midwicket. He then put down his bat, raised his arms straight over his head, and clapped his gloves together, seemingly applauding his own stroke. Before starting his run-up for the next ball, Steyn clapped softly, smiling at Yusuf. The battle was on.
There was no guessing the length Steyn was going to bowl at Yusuf Pathan. A 147 kph bouncer arrived on target in the 19th over and had Yusuf ducking for cover. Yusuf knew what the next one would be. He was in position when a short one arrived outside off, and pulled it for a flat six over deep midwicket. He then put down his bat, raised his arms straight over his head, and clapped his gloves together, seemingly applauding his own stroke. Before starting his run-up for the next ball, Steyn clapped softly, smiling at Yusuf. The battle was on.
The run-out
Who else but Gautam Gambhir again? He cut Mishra in the point region and sprinted for a single. He hadn't accounted for backward point's dive, though. Kallis did. Kallis took a few steps, saw the fielder had stopped the ball, and shouted "no". But Gambhir was more than half way down the pitch by then, and had no chance of getting back.
Who else but Gautam Gambhir again? He cut Mishra in the point region and sprinted for a single. He hadn't accounted for backward point's dive, though. Kallis did. Kallis took a few steps, saw the fielder had stopped the ball, and shouted "no". But Gambhir was more than half way down the pitch by then, and had no chance of getting back.
Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo