By Ross Roche.
The Proteas picked up where they left off on the morning of day two in the second test, before a late fight back from Bangladesh saw the visitors reach still reach lunch in a strong position on 413/5 at the at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.
First day hero was finally dismissed for an impressive 177 off 269 balls (12×4; 4×6), and along with David Bedingham, 59 off 78 (2×4; 4×6), they shared in a 116-run third wicket partnership after resuming the Proteas innings on 307/2 at the start of play.
Both batters seemed untroubled, with Bedingham taking on the role of aggressor as they took their side past the 350-run mark and towards 400.
But Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam made sure that it wouldn’t all go the way of the visitors as he picked up three quick wickets to slow the Proteas progress at the break.
After Bedingham had slammed him for a six over long off, Islam sent in a quicker delivery that beat the batters swing and flattened his leg stump, with the score 386/3.
He then trapped De Zorzi and first test centurion Kyle Verreynne for a duck, both LBW, with all three wickets having been taken over a superb 14-ball run, as the Proteas slipped to 391/5.
That brought Ryan Rickelton (11no) and Wiaan Mulder (12no) to the crease and they made sure there would be no further trouble taking the Proteas over 400 and safely to lunch.
Rickelton and Mulder will hope to kick on in the days second session and build a strong partnership, while Islam will be eyeing more wickets, after he was also the only bowler to pick up wickets on day one, which sees him with impressive figures of 5/152.
Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Zakir Hasan, Mahidul Islam (wk), Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud
South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson.