REUTERS
New Zealand's Craig Cumming is hit by a Dale Steyn delivery during the first day of their second Test cricket match against South Africa at Centurion in Pretoria, yesterday.

CENTURION, South Africa (Reuters):

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn took four wickets to pile the pressure on New Zealand on the first day of the second Test yesterday.

New Zealand, who won the toss and chose to bat, lurched to 187-8 before bad light followed by a thunderstorm ended play three overs after tea.

A fiery Steyn, who took match figures of 10-93 in the first Test in Johannesburg which South Africa won by 358 runs, claimed 4-42. New Zealand reached lunch on 84-1 before losing five wickets for 100 in the second session.

South African assistant coach Vincent Barnes told a news conference that captain Graeme Smith had given the players a lunchtime pep talk, saying he was concerned about the bowling.

"He felt we didn't hit our straps as we would have liked to," Barnes said. "We sprayed the ball about a bit and bowled inconsistent lengths.

"He asked the bowlers to step up. They didn't bowl badly, but he wanted them to put more pressure on the batsmen."

Opener Craig Cumming, who retired hurt on 48, was among the casualties after being felled by a Steyn bouncer that fractured his cheekbone.

Barnes said Steyn had not been shaken by the incident, which also opened a cut on Cumming's face that required two stitches.