Dale Steyn’s best innings came when it counted

Dale Steyn’s career-best 76 helped turn a struggling Proteas innings into a platform for their first Test series victory in Australia.

Australia had plenty of reasons to worry about Dale Steyn at the MCG in December 2008. Spending almost four hours trying to get him out would hardly have been their first concern.

Yet his innings at No 10 became one of the defining contributions of South Africa’s historic tour. Steyn faced 191 deliveries for his 76, helping drag a match slipping towards Australia back into the Proteas’ hands.

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South Africa had arrived in Melbourne with a 1-0 lead after chasing down 414 in Perth. Another victory would secure their first Test series win on Australian soil, but the hosts had given themselves a strong chance of taking the contest to a decider.

Australia posted 394, with Steyn taking 5-87, before South Africa’s reply faltered. When Paul Harris departed for a valuable 39, the tourists were 251-8, still 143 runs behind. JP Duminy needed someone to stay with him.

Steyn hardly arrived with the credentials of a reliable lower-order batter. His highest Test score before Melbourne was 33 not out, and his batting average was below 10. What followed was an extraordinary contribution from a player whose main job was already demanding enough.

He and Duminy added 180 for the ninth wicket. Steyn struck nine fours and a six, combining the patience to occupy the crease with enough scoring shots to keep Australia working. By the time Peter Siddle bowled him, South Africa had reached 431-9 and moved ahead.

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That is what gives the innings its lasting appeal. A substantial deficit had looked likely when Steyn walked out. His partnership with Duminy changed what South Africa could reasonably hope to achieve from the match.

Duminy finished with 166 as the Proteas reached 459, a lead of 65. Steyn then took another five wickets, finishing with match figures of 10-154 as Australia were dismissed for 247.

South Africa chased down 183 for a nine-wicket victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead. Steyn was named player of the match after contributing to every major turn in the contest.

His memories of the achievement extended beyond his own performance. Reflecting on the victory years later, Steyn recalled senior teammates becoming emotional on the bus back to the hotel after finally winning a series in Australia.

The ten wickets belong among his great bowling performances. But the 76 deserves its own place in the story: the afternoon South Africa’s fast bowler stayed long enough to give his team a very different game to win.

Photo: Tertius Pickard / Gallo Images

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