Bangladesh went into tea on day two of the second Test in big trouble at 61-4 after Proteas bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier and Wayne Parnell struck early.
After a 90-minute delay to the start of play, the first session was dominated by an incredible batting display by Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla – Du Plessis reaching his seventh century and Amla his 28th ton to become the second highest century-getter for South Africa.
Questions of a declaration were the main topic at the start of the second session, with anywhere between 550-600 the expected declaration target.
Both batsmen came out with a playful attitude, as Du Plessis picked up five runs in the first over. Like his captain, Amla tried to improvise off his first ball after lunch, standing on leg stump and missing a full straight delivery which sent his bails flying, courtesy of Subashis Roy.
Quinton de Kock played his natural game, looking to boost the run rate, smashing two sixes and a four in Taijul Islam’s 27th over, Du Plessis hitting a four off the final ball as SA crept past 560.
After seven overs in the second session, South Africa declared at 573-4, with De Kock ending on 28 off 27 (2×6, 2×4) balls and Du Plessis walking on 135 off 181 (17×4).
As expected, the Proteas got their early breakthroughs. Bangladesh managed only 13 runs before the fall of the first wicket – Rabada set up Soumya Sarkar with a string of short deliveries before he switched it up with a quick good-length ball, as Sarkar watched the ball curl around his pads and crash into his leg stump.
Olivier was fortunate to join the party. He banged in a short delivery at Mominul Haque, the left-hander failing to get his gloves out the way of a delivery straying down the leg side.
Bangladesh insisted on playing at the short delivery, as Mushfiqur attempted to cut a short Olivier delivery, but Temba Bavuma dived to his right from gully for an exquisite catch to send the Tigers’ captain packing on 7.
After smacking a full and wide length delivery from Wayne Parnell to the boundary, Mahmudullah was the fourth wicket to fall, attempting to pull out of a shot which feathered his edge for a simple De Kock catch. A couple of boundaries from Liton Das saw Bangladesh to tea, as they ended on 61-4.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
