South Africa on top despite Elgar heartbreak
POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa: South Africa claimed three top-order Bangladesh wickets to take a firm grip on the second day of the first Test at Senwes Park on Friday. Bangladesh were 127 for three at the close, still trailing by 369 runs after South Africa declared their first innings on 496 for three.
Dean Elgar made 199 and Hashim Amla scored 137 as South Africa batted remorselessly until tea before captain Faf du Plessis declared.
The declaration caused a problem for Bangladesh because regular opener Tamim Iqbal had been off the field towards the end of South Africa’s innings, which meant he had to wait for 48 minutes before he could bat. Two wickets fell before Tamim’s enforced absence came to an end and he eventually batted at number five.
It was the first time in his 52-Test career that he had not faced the first ball of an innings.
Kagiso Rabada made an early breakthrough for South Africa when Imrul Kayes gloved a catch to gully in the sixth over. SCOREBOARD South Africa first innings (O/n: 298-1): D Elgar c M Haque b M Rahman ..................................................... 199 A Markram (run out) .......................................................................... 97 H Amla c M Hasan b S Islam ............................................................ 137 T Bavuma (not out) ............................................................................ 31 F du Plessis (not out) ......................................................................... 26 Extras (LB-4, W-2)................................................................. 6 Total (For 3 wkts dec, 146 overs) ....................................... 496 Fall of wickets: 1-196, 2-411, 3-445. Bowling: M Rahman 27-2-98-1, S Islam 25-5-74-1, M Hasan 56-4-1780, T Ahmed 26-5-88-0, Mahmudullah 5-0-24-0, M Haque 2-0-15-0, S Rahman 5-1-15-0. Bangladesh first innings L Das c Amla b Morkel........................................................................ 25 I Kayes c Markram b Rabada................................................................ 7 M Haque (not out) ............................................................................. 28 M Rahim c Markram b Maharaj ......................................................... 44 T Iqbal (not out) ................................................................................. 22 Extras (LB-1) ........................................................................ 1 Total (For 3 wkts, 34 overs)............................................... 127 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-36, 3-103. Bowling: Morkel 7-1-34-1, Rabada Olivier 5-1-27-0, Phehlukwayo 2-1-4-0 9-2-23-1, Maharaj 11-3-38-1,