Elgar 199, Amla 137 hurt Bangladesh

South Africa's bowlers took three Bangladesh top-order wickets after its batsmen piled up 496 for 3 declared to edge ahead on the second day of the first Test in Potchefstroom on Friday (September 29).

Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar hit big hundreds to put the home side in the driver's seat before the bowlers kept the visiting side to 127 for 3, still 369 runs in deficit.

Elgar missed out on a double century by one run, while Amla scored 137 as South Africa made Bangladesh toil until tea before Faf du Plessis, the captain, brought the innings to a close.

The timing of the declaration caused Bangladesh a strategic problem because Tamim Iqbal, the regular opener, had gone off the field towards the end of the South African innings. Under stipulations, he had to wait 48 minutes before he could bat.

Bangladesh lost the wickets of Liton Das and Imrul Kayes before Tamim could come in to bat at No. 5. This marked the first time in his 52-Test career that the left-hander hadn't played the first ball of an innings.

Kagiso Rabada provided his side with the first breakthrough, getting Kayes to nick one to gully in just the sixth over. Soon afterwards Morne Morkel removed Liton, the stand-in opener, for a brisk 25. Liton pulled the tall right-handed paceman for two successive boundaries before edging one to first slip.

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain, scored a counter-attacking 44 off 57 balls but not without a bit of luck. He was dropped at six and 15 off Keshav Maharaj's bowling by Elgar at slip, although they were tough chances. The left-arm spinner finally had his man when Rahim offered a bat-pad catch to short leg.

Tamim and Mominul Haque were the unbeaten batsmen at close of play. Tamim finished the day with a six off Maharaj to take his score to 22. Haque more reserved in comparison, scoring 28 off 64 deliveries.

Earlier in the day, the duo of Elgar and Amla added 215 runs for the second wicket. Amla was dismissed in the first over after lunch when he cut at a wide ball from Mustafizur Rahman straight to backward point.

It was Amla's 27th hundred, which brought his tally of centuries level with Graeme Smith's. Jacques Kallis, with 45 hundreds, is the only South African with more tons.

Elgar also surpassed his previous best Test score of 140 and looked set for his maiden double ton, but his attempted pull shot off Shafiul Islam to bring up the mark was top-edged to short midwicket.