Morkel strikes before rain arrives
Bangladesh was reduced to 49 for 3 in pursuit of an improbable 424-run target on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at Senwes Park on Sunday. An attacking knock from Faf du Plessis had earlier helped the home side declare its second innings on 247 for 6.
Rain forced the umpires to call for early stumps, with no play possible in the final session of the day. With more rain expected on the final day of the Test, Bangladesh's chances of hanging on for a draw look better, despite having ended the fourth day in some strife.
Morne Morkel struck twice in the first over to rattle Bangladesh. Morkel castled Tamim Iqbal and had Mominul Haque leg before wicket for ducks to leave the visiting side tottering at 0 for 2. Morkel’s sensational start could have been even better but he was denied a third wicket because of a no-ball in the third over. The tall pacer uprooted Mushfiqur Rahim's middle stump, but television replays showed he had over-stepped and it was a no-ball.
Morkel, however, suffered from a side strain that forced him to leave the ground after bowling two balls in his sixth over. The injury is likely to keep him out of the rest of the match. He will be taken for scans on Monday and is unlikely to bowl again in the contest. The pacer had recently made a comeback from a back injury he suffered in the One-Day International tri-series in West Indies in June last year.
Rahim and Imrul Kayes tried to steady Bangladesh's innings, but the latter nicked Keshav Maharaj to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps at the stroke of tea to help South Africa wrap up another successful session.
Kayes scored 32 off 42 balls, while Rahim remained unbeaten on 16 off 46 at the break.
Earlier, du Plessis made 81 off 101 balls as South Africa stretched its lead in the morning and middle sessions of the day. Du Plessis and Temba Bavuma (71) added 142 runs off 172 balls in their dominating fourth-wicket partnership. Hashim Amla was the only batsman to be dismissed in the morning, caught behind off Mustafizur Rahman for 28, with South Africa reaching 203 for 3 in 45 overs.
Clearly intent on setting up a declaration which would leave his team with plenty of time to bowl Bangladesh out for a second time, du Plessis played with aggression from the start of his innings. He hit the fastest half-century of the match, off 55 balls.
Bavuma too lifted his tempo as he and du Plessis mixed boundaries with good running between the wickets.
Du Plessis and Bavuma fell in quick succession in the post-lunch session, and once Liton Das stumped Quinton de Kock off Mominul Haque in the 53rd over, South Africa decided to declare.
To win this contest, Bangladesh will have to beat Windies' 418 for 7 as the highest successful chase in Test history, registered against Australia at St. John's in May 2003.
