GQEBERHA: Bangladesh left-arm spin bowler Taijul Islam took three wickets and prevented South Africa from dominating the first day of the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Friday.

Dean Elgar (70), Keegan Petersen (64) and Temba Bavuma (67) made half-centuries as South Africa made 278 for five after winning the toss.

Taijul took three for 77 in 32 overs. He bowled unchanged from before lunch until after tea in a first spell of two for 63 in 24 overs.

Following controversy over umpiring during South Africa’s 220-run win in the first Test in Durban, two of Taijul’s wickets came after successful reviews.

Petersen was initially given not out by umpire Allahudien Paleker when he was struck on the pads after taking two strides out of his batting crease.

Bangladesh reviewed the decision, the ball was shown to be on target and television umpire Adrian Holdstock decided Petersen had not advanced the two metres necessary to get the benefit of the on-field umpire’s call.

The second successful review came when the left-handed Ryan Rickelton attempted a reverse sweep and the ball lobbed to Yasir Ali at slip. Umpire Marais Erasmus turned down the appeal for a catch but replays showed the ball deflected off the glove covering his wrist.

Bangladesh could have had a wicket in the third over of the day when an appeal for leg before wicket by Khaled Ahmed against Sarel Erwee was turned down but not reviewed, although replays showed the ball would have hit the top of leg stump.

Erwee was eventually caught behind off Khaled for 24 after an opening partnership of 52 with Elgar. Khaled took a second wicket when he had Bavuma caught low down at first slip by Najmul Hossain in the third over with the second new ball.

It was Bavuma’s 19th Test half-century and he was again unable to add to his lone century made in 2016.

South African captain Elgar made his third successive half-century, striking the ball crisply in an 89-ball innings which included ten fours.

He said after winning the toss that he wanted his batsmen to score centuries and looked on course to lead by example until he was undone by some good bowling by Taijul. He edged a ball to wicketkeeper Liton Das which hurried through straight after the previous delivery had turned sharply towards the left-hander.

Taijul, who did not play in Bangladesh’s 220-run defeat in the first Test, played in place of injured fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and provided the control that eluded Bangladesh’s other three bowlers in the early part of the day.

South Africa were scoring at four runs an over before a 27-minute rain interruption in mid-afternoon. But they could only add another 43 runs for one wicket in 19 overs after the break and another 79 runs for two wickets in 32 overs after tea.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA: (1st innings)

D. Elgar c Liton Das b Taijul Islam 70

S. Erwee c Liton Das b Khaled Ahmed 24

K. Petersen lbw b Taijul Islam 64

T. Bavuma c Najmul Hossain b Khaled Ahmed 67

R. Rickelton c Yasir Ali b Taijul Islam 42

K. Verreynne not out 10

W. Mulder not out 0

EXTRAS (W-1) 1

TOTAL (for five wkts, 90 overs) 278

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-52 (Erwee), 2-133 (Elgar), 3-184 (Petersen), 4-257 (Rickelton), 5-271 (Bavuma)

BOWLING (to-date): Khaled Ahmed 20-4-59-2, Mehidy Hasan 19-2-58-0, Ebadot Hossain 16-2-75-0 (1w), Taijul Islam 32-7-77-3, Najmul Hossain 3-0-9-0

STILL TO BAT: K. Maharaj, S. Harmer, L. Williams, D. Olivier

BANGLADESH: Mominul Haque (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2022