Five wickets for Dale Steyn in club cricket match for WPCC

Steyn pictured at the Vineyard Oval on Saturday, 27 February 2016.Steyn pictured at the Vineyard Oval on Saturday, 27 February 2016.

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn made a telling contribution for Western Province Cricket Club, on day one of a key Western Province Cricket Association premier league fixture against St Augustine Cricket Club on Saturday.

Sidelined by groin and shoulder injuries, Steyn had not played competitive cricket since December last year, prior to 27 February 2016 at the Vineyard Oval in Claremont, Cape Town.

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Testing his fitness and pace prior to next month’s Twenty20 International series against Australia and World Twenty20 in India, the right-arm fast bowler secured figures of three for two and two for 11. He bowled five overs in each innings, as WPCC reduced St Augustine CC to 42 all out and 48 for six.

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The hosts are in a very commanding position, having amassed 326 for eight declared, for a hefty 236-run lead, on the back of a superb century from opener Derek Mitchell and complementary half-tons from talented duo James Crowson and Dayaan Galiem. Steyn also batted, at position seven in the order, falling for four off six deliveries.

“I will be fine to play against Australia. All the talk about the injury can take a sideline. I have been fine for the last three weeks – and that’s why I’m playing here for WPCC. If I was injured, I wouldn’t be playing. So, I am ready to take on the Aussies and everything should be fine,” Steyn told Independent Media.

The 32-year-old Steyn will not play the second and final day of the fixture, as confirmed by his agent, Dave Rundle, to Club Cricket SA earlier this week.