05 January,2010 07:54 AM IST | | AFP
South African fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn took three wickets each and ensured that the third Test against England remained evenly balanced after the second day's play at Newlands yesterday.
England were 241 for seven at the close, 50 behind South Africa's first innings total of 291.
Thanks mainly to Morkel, who took three for 57, and Steyn (three for 64), England were unable to take control despite ripping through the South African lower batting order early in the day.
"The bowlers came out and showed what they can do," said all-rounder Jacques Kallis.
"The guys have really stepped up to the plate and delivered the goods as we know they can and as they did in Australia and England (in winning series in 2008)."
England top-scorer Alastair Cook, who made 65, gave credit to the bowlers too. "They kept us under constant pressure," he said. Kallis felt South Africa had a slight edge in their quest to level the four-match series, despite having struggled early on after being sent in on Sunday and losing their last four wickets for 12 runs at the start of play. "If we can knock over the tail and then our batsmen get through the new ball we will probably be ahead of the game," said Kallis, who felt a final innings target of 300 or more would be difficult for England to chase down.
"It's a very different Newlands wicket. It's a bit more uneven and perhaps done a little more than what we are used to."
England's remaining batsmen, led by wicketkeeper Matt Prior, on 52 not out, will be in a similar situation to South Africa when they resume on the third day. The South African bowlers will be armed with an almost-new ball and according to Kallis the pitch has a history of being tricky to bat on early in the day.
Kallis himself was out to the first ball he faced edging Graham Onions to Prior without adding to his overnight score of 108.
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James Anderson then scythed through the last three wickets, finishing with five for 63, his eighth five-wicket haul in Tests.
