Morkel gets stuck in early
SIDE STRAIN: FAST BOWLER UNLIKELY TO BOWL AGAIN
Rain has the final say as entire last session is washed out.
The Proteas will be hoping the weather settles down in Potchefstroom as they go into the final day of the first Test needing seven wickets to beat a Bangladesh side that has resisted firmly at times.
Bangladesh finished yesterday’s fourth day, which featured no play after tea due to rain, on 49/3 in their second innings, having been set a near insurmountable 424 for victory.
South Africa had started the day as firm favourites, on 54/2 with a first-innings lead of 176, and they consolidated their position while also scoring fluently, middle-order batsmen Temba Bavuma and Faf du Plessis adding 142 for the fourth wicket, a record for SA against Bangladesh.
Bavuma is like the Jonty Rhodes of this current Proteas set-up and he followed up a superb run out on the third day with a busy innings of 71 off 107 balls. Captain Du Plessis’ crisp strokeplay and positive intent took him to 81 off 101 deliveries.
Bangladesh had to turn to the part-time left-arm orthodox spin of Mominul Haque, who had also been their leading run-scorer, to break their stand and he finished with three for 27 in six overs, having never taken more than two wickets in any first-class innings before.
It was soon apparent that fast bowler Morne Morkel had a bee in his bonnet as he claimed two wickets in a magnificent opening over, removing Tamim Iqbal and Mominul for ducks. Coming around the wicket, he made a beeline for the stumps, bowling the shotless Tamim and then trapping Mominul lbw, although replays showed the decision would have been overturned if the batsman had reviewed.
Morkel was fired up but then he just became angry and frustrated as he destroyed Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim’s stumps in his next over, only for his front foot to have not stayed behind the popping crease. It was the 14th time in Tests the beanpole veteran has been denied a wicket due to a no-ball.
Mushfiqur was on two and Imrul Kayes was on four three overs later when he was dropped off Kagiso Rabada, Du Plessis missing a regulation chance at second slip.
There would be further frustration for South Africa when Morkel trudged off the field after two balls of his sixth over, suffering a side strain which will be scanned first thing this morning, but he is unlikely to bowl again in this match.
Fortunately, Keshav Maharaj managed to have Kayes caught behind for 32 on the stroke of tea, and the left-arm spinner is in for a busy day today as the Proteas will be racing against time and the weather in trying to run through the much-improved Bangladesh batting line-up.