Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma played positively to stretch the Proteas’ lead to 379 at lunch on day four in Potchefstroom. JON CARDINELLI reports.
The Proteas went into the first session needing quick runs. Du Plessis may have had a lead of 400 in mind at the start of play. The South African captain also would have been mindful of the weather forecast for Monday, and the time that might be lost as a result.
Hashim Amla perished after attempting to dispatch a wide delivery to the boundary. Not long after that, Bavuma flashed at a delivery on the off-side and was put down at point.
The Proteas went at four runs per over in the first hour of play. Thereafter, Du Plessis and Bavuma shifted gear to add 101 runs in the period between the drinks break and lunch.
Du Plessis, the chief aggressor, reached his half-century in 55 deliveries, while Bavuma took 75 balls to reach the milestone. Together, Du Plessis and Bavuma put on 133 for the fourth wicket – a record against Bangladesh. The intent, as well as the execution by the Proteas, was spot-on during the first session.
The Proteas head into the second session needing 21 more runs for a psychologically imposing lead of 400. That should be enough to ensure that the Proteas can’t lose the game. A declaration sometime before tea should also leave the hosts with sufficient time to claim 10 Bangladesh wickets.
SA (1st innings) 496-3 declared – Dean Elgar 199, Hashim Amla 137, Aiden Markram 97
Bangladesh (1st innings) 320 – Mushfiqur Rahim 44, Mominul Haque 77, Mahmudullah 66
SA (2nd innings) 203-3 – Faf du Plessis 77 not out, Temba Bavuma 64 not out, Mustafizur Rahman 2-30
South Africa lead by 379 runs
