Dale Steyn's dominance against Pakistan (Source: @ICC/x.com)
A thrilling red-ball showdown is unfolding as Pakistan and South Africa lock horns in a two-match Test series. On Pakistani soil, the battle between the Men in Green and the Proteas has turned fiery, with both sides pushing their limits in pursuit of dominance.
Over the years, the cricket world has witnessed their fiery duels between both sides in the longest formats but some of the performances have become immortal. In 2013, when both sides collide on South African soil, Dale Steyn’s outstanding 11-wicket hauled remained one of such memories that still haunts the Men in Green.
On that day, the Wanderers Stadium saw the fiercest version of the South African pacer who outplayed the visitors almost singlehandedly. Let’s revisit the memory of Steyn’s pure brilliance.
Wanderers in wonder as Steyn unleashes pure fire
As the oldest and purest form of cricket, Test matches have long stood as the game’s crown jewel, a true examination of skill, patience, and character. Along with some gripping contests, some outstanding spells grabbed attention which became immortal with time. Dale Steyn’s brilliant 11-wicket haul against Pakistan in 2013 has been one of the best performance of the format’s history.
In the first Test match of the three-match Test series against the Men in Green, South Africa batted first and ended the innings in 253 runs. As the Pakistani batters were thinking to tackle the Protea attack with ease, Dale Steyn wrote the script differently and a nightmare unfolded that Pakistan never even imagined.
As Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed came to open the innings, Dale Steyn gave a fiery start and sent both the openers successively and that was a massive blow for the Pakistani side. In the same over, the Protea star dismissed Younis Khan on a five-ball duck and that left Pakistan reeling already.
After Umar Gul walked away on a duck in a outstanding delivery by the pace king, he removed Sarfaraz Ahmed and completed his fifer. Greatness often has a final flourish, and Steyn’s dismissal of Rahat Ali was exactly that, sealing remarkable figures of 6 for 8 in just 8.1 overs as Pakistan crumbled to a shocking 49 all out.
Steyn’s five-star spell buries Pakistan’s innings
Pakistan was already under pressure after their poor outing in the first innings, Dale Steyn’s second innings brilliance hit them harder. The early collapse had left the Men in Green desperate for stability, and a fighting partnership between Nasir Jamshed and Azhar Ali offered a glimmer of hope. But Steyn had other plans, his crucial dismissal of Jamshed turned the momentum on its head, leaving Pakistan’s revival in ruins.
After that, Misbah Ul Haq and Asad Shafiq was stitching a crucial partnership but Steyn removed both of them and turned the tide. After that, he removed Umar Gul in 23 runs. Already on fire with a four-wicket haul, Steyn added another masterstroke, claiming a fifth wicket after dismissing Junaid Khan, turning the match completely in South Africa’s favor.
The Pakistani side couldn’t just survive infront of lethal bowling attack of the Proteas as Dale Steyn’s dominance toe apart the Men in Green. His astonishing figures of 11/60 were more than just a bowling performance, they were a showcase of South Africa’s pace mastery on the world stage. 12 years later when both sides are facing each other in the longest format, Steyn’s fiery spell is still fresh in fans’ memories.
