Staff Reporter.
Keshav Maharaj blasted a run-a-ball half-century to enable South Africa to reach a healthy 384 for seven at lunch on the second day of the second Betway test against Bangladesh at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Resuming on 278 for five, South Africa lost Kyle Verreynne in the seventh over, bowled off his pad by Khaled Ahmed. Inconsistency in length has cost the Bangladesh bowlers dearly in this match, with short balls repeatedly crashed to the boundary, but every now and again they have bowled the fuller length. This was the case with Verreynne’s dismissal.
It was a happy ending for Khaled who earlier had needlessly thrown a ball at Verreynne after the batsman had blocked a delivery back to him. The ball crashed into Verreynne’s glove and umpire Marais Erasmus was forced to administer a stern warning about Khaled’s behaviour to skipper Mominul Haque.
The partnership had been a turgid one (29 off 73 balls) with Wiaan Mulder needing 22 balls to get off the mark.
Maharaj’s entry, after South Africa had just breached the 300 mark, changed the entire tempo of the innings.
Taijul Islam’s first delivery to Maharaj typified the bowling allrounder’s approach as he crashed it over midwicket for six before cracking a four through the covers off the back foot. At his best the aggressive Maharaj makes batting look simple and so it proved as he cracked four fours and three sixes in his 50 – his fourth in tests.
Maharaj’s approach also dragged Mulder out of his inertia and he began to play an active part in their partnership of 81 in 100 balls before he was bowled by a superb delivery from Taijul (pitched leg, hit off) for 33 shortly before lunch.
Maharaj went into the break undefeated on 55 in 61 balls accompanied by his spin twin Simon Harmer (3).
For Bangladesh, Taijul has been their most successful bowler with 4/107 in 39 overs with Khaled claiming 3/91 in 27 overs.
South Aafrica: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Lizaad Williams, Duanne Olivier
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das (wk), Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain.