Having been stunned by Bangladesh in the ODI series, South Africa were under pressure to improve in the first Test match, in Durban, although IPL commitments meant that their starting XI included some unfamiliar names.
For the first time since 1969/70 they included two spinners, in anticipation of low, slow conditions later in the match. Bangladesh, on the other hand, had to make do without the injured Ariful Islam, while a stomach ache ruled out Tamim Iqbal on the first morning.
The start of the match was delayed with a malfunction of the sight screens at both ends of the ground resulted in the sponsor’s name being covered by a cloth.
When play went underway, the South African openers initially made Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque pay for his decision to bowl on a brown-green surface after winning the toss. Captain Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee made a confident start, putting on 95/0 in the morning session, with Elgar in particularly fluent form.
They resumed after the break and had extended the partnership to 113 before both men fell in successive overs. Elgar had made 67 with including 11 fours when he was caught behind off Khaled Ahmed. Erwee was then bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 41, having struck six fours.
Keegan Petersen and Temba Bavuma added 29, but Bangladesh had more success when Petersen was run out for 19. Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton put on 34 for the fourth wicket until Rickelton, who had reached 21, gave Mominul a catch off the bowling of Ebadat Hossain.
Bavuma (53*), though, consolidated the innings with Kyle Varreyne (27*), and the balance slowly tipped South Africa’s way. By the close of play, which came early because of fading light, they had added an unbeaten 53 for the fifth wicket.
Brief scores:
South Africa 233/4 (Dean Elgar 67; Khaled Ahmed 1-49) vs Bangladesh.