Pakistan have lost three wickets but, with in-form opener Saim Ayub out of the game due to an ankle fracture sustained in the field on day one, they are a batter light and trail by 551 runs.

Babar Azam is 31 not out and will resume on the third morning with Mohammad Rizwan on nine as Pakistan attempt to make inroads into their huge deficit.

Seamer Kagiso Rabada (2-9) has taken two of the three wickets to fall, having visiting captain Shan Masood (2) and Saud Shakeel (0) both caught at first slip by David Bedingham.

Tall seamer Marco Jansen forced Kamran Ghulam (12) to chop the ball on to his own stumps.

But the day belonged to Rickelton, who posted his highest first-class score in a 10-hour, 343-ball stay at the wicket that contained 29 fours and three sixes.

He put on a partnership of 235 with captain Temba Bavuma (106) on the first day and 148 with Kyle Verreynne (100) as the South African batters made hay in the sweltering conditions in Cape Town.

Having been elevated to open the innings due to an injury to Tony de Zorzi, Rickelton was finally dismissed when he attempted a tired swipe at seamer Mir Hamza and skied a catch to Mohammad Abbas at mid-on.

VERREYNNE HITS OUT

The tourists removed Bedingham for five early in the day as he became one of wicketkeeper Rizwan’s six victims in the innings, this time off the bowling of Abbas (3-94) with a poor shot outside off-stump.

That brought Verreynne to the wicket and he unleashed his full array of strokes on the tiring visitors, reaching his fourth test century from 144 balls with five sixes before he was caught by Aamer Jamal on the midwicket boundary off spinner Salman Agha (3-148).

Jansen hit a breezy 62 from 54 balls and Keshav Maharaj got 40 from 35 deliveries as the home side looked for quick runs at the end of their innings.

South Africa have already claimed their place in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s against as yet unconfirmed opponents, and are looking to win this series 2-0 after claiming a tense first test by two wickets in Pretoria.

The post Rickelton’s big double-ton puts South Africa in charge appeared first on SportsClub.

South Africa were 316 for four at the close having at one stage slipped to 72 for three, before Rickelton reached his highest test score in a partnership of 235 with captain Temba Bavuma (106) for the fourth wicket.

The pair scored at over four runs an over on a wicket that is playing true … for now.

“We knew the wicket was playing well and if we could lock in with a partnership and stretch things out, that was always going to be important,” Rickelton told reporters.

“Probably the same tomorrow against the new ball. I feel it (the wicket) is brittle and dry underneath so I do anticipate turn later on. First innings runs are always important, so we have to try and maximise them.”

Rickelton and provincial teammate Bavuma know each other well, even if there was not a lot of talking in the middle.

“We bat really well together,” Rickelton said. “We don’t talk a lot in all honesty, he just emphasised doing the basics for long periods of time. He has been playing incredibly well for a long period.

“I naturally score quite quickly and once I was able to take some dismissals out of the equation, I could expand as the game allowed. I did not have to go looking for too much.

“I am bloody chuffed to be honest, a New Years test (century) in Cape Town is something you dream of.”

Rickleton has batted everywhere from three to six in the South African order, but this was his first time opening the innings, forced into the role by an injury to Tony de Zorzi.

He says he had no hesitation when coach Shukri Conrad asked him to open.

“Shukri spoke to me yesterday and said he would not put me into a position he did not think I could do. I just want to bat, it doesn’t matter where. I have trained a lot against the new ball, but mentally it is a big challenge and days like today are few and far between.”

The left-hander’s first test century came last month against Sri Lanka and says it was contrasting emotions between the two.

“Last time it was relief, this one was a bit more enjoyment. I had fun out there and played more how I like to play the game.”

The post Rickelton revels in unbeaten century against Pakistan appeared first on SportsClub.

The row between Quinton de Kock and David Warner has been overplayed. Both players have accepted their fines and demerit points and it is time to shift the attention back to the cricket.

ALSO READ: De Kock found guilty 

Incidents like this should be sorted out on the field if boundaries or ‘lines’ have been crossed.

Smith, however, confirmed that a meeting was held between the match officials and the captains.

‘It was nice to just have a chat and ensure that we’re playing within the spirit of the game and that cricket is what is written about and talked about after this game,’ said Smith on Thursday. 

‘It’s all been about the indiscretions of the last fixture and that’s not what we want for the game. Cricket has got to be the winner, so it’s just about staying in line, continuing to play good, hard cricket.

‘There’s nothing wrong with a bit of banter out in the field. It’s just making sure we’re not getting personal or crossing any lines.’

Smith and Faf du Plessis have called for umpires to be more hands-on with their rulings on the field. 

‘That was also talked about. More with the fact that if they hear something going on, it’s about going to either myself or Faf to ensure that we have our troops in line and playing within the guidelines. That was the conversation,’ said Smith. 

Faf commented: ‘If the captain is not close by then, that role will fall onto the umpires to make sure if they see someone that’s continuously trying to get a reaction out of player.’

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images

The post Smith: Cricket must be the winner appeared first on SportsClub.

Scene-setter:

Round two begins. The Proteas need to shift their attention away from the off-field controversy and focus on how they are going to win the second Test in Port Elizabeth.

Mentally, the Proteas senior batsmen have been poor. It seems they are overthinking their dip in form and straying from their game plan. They need to remove themselves from any unnecessary distractions and focus on the basics.

Mitchell Starc has been excellent, finding dangerous reverse swing, but he hasn’t been completely unplayable. The Proteas need to be patient when facing him by blocking or leaving the good deliveries while punishing any loose balls and pouncing on the short ones.

Nathan Lyon has been decent. The spinner has been getting quick flight through the air, so unlike the India spinners, the Proteas should find it easier to face him (batting coach Dale Benkenstein, after the second ODI against India, mentioned that it was the slow-spin that took the Proteas by surprise).

The first Test was lost due to one specific reason and it is not the Proteas’ bowling. Despite Faf du Plessis’ comments about the Proteas bowlers improving their death bowling, it’s the senior batsmen who need to step up and lift the pressure off the Proteas tail. The top order must rise to their full potential and take their time to get their eye in.

ALSO READ: Faf calls for ruthless tail-end bowling

Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla and Du Plessis need to be solid and play grinding innings, so that Aiden Markram, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock can express themselves freely. Theunis de Bruyn is not needed, bringing in Lungi Ngidi will solve the Proteas’ bowling frailties for sure.

Temba Bavuma could also be an option to replace De Bruyn if the Proteas stick to their seven-batsmen mould.

ALSO READ: Faf: Bavuma an option

Yes, if the Proteas had managed to dismiss the Australia tail in the first innings at Kingsmead, they would have saved in excess of 75 runs, preventing Australia from reaching the 300-run mark. But 351 should not be a difficult first-innings total to chase, with the talent and experience in the Proteas’ arsenal.

Pitch and conditions: 

Du Plessis said he expects a similar wicket to Durban, one that is slow and at times produces tennis-ball bounce. The Proteas skipper also confirmed that the overhead conditions will play a role in the match. Cloudy, overcast and humid conditions will make reverse-swing more deadly.

Players to watch:

Morne Morkel had an average start to his final Test series. The only wickets he took came in Australia’s second innings and he finished with match figures of 3-112. He will need to step up.

Keshav Maharaj was South Africa’s star of the first Test, taking career-best match figures of 9-225. He bowled 63.2 overs and held up the end beautifully while striking at crucial stages of the game.

There’s no doubt that Starc needs to be stopped. The Australia left-arm paceman bowled with precision, accuracy and speed in the first Test. His reverse swing was vital to the Proteas’ demise. He finished with match figures of 9-109, but mainly hassled the Proteas tail.

All eyes will be on both sides’ senior batsmen.

David Warner will be dangerous. He has the incentive to punish the Proteas after he was fined 75% of his match fee and given three demerit points as punishment for the tunnel row with De Kock. He has an average of 56.00 against the Proteas, which includes four fifties and four hundreds. He scored 79 runs in the first Test, including 51 in Australia’s first inning, and will be riled up to retaliate against South Africa.

Probable XIs:

The Proteas will probably stay with the same XI. But if it was up to me, I would drop De Bruyn for Ngidi. The 21-year-old is good at restricting the tail and will be a surprise package against Australia.

Proteas XI (probable): 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Faf du Plessis (capt), 6. Theunis de Bruyn  7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Morne Morkel,

Australia XI: 1 Cameron Bancroft, 2 David Warner, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Shaun Marsh, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Tim Paine (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon.

Stats:

– Four of the top five highest run-scorers at St George’s Park are playing in the second Test. Dean Elgar (451), AB de Villiers (437), Faf du Plessis (423) and Hashim Amla (401).
– South Africa have played Australia six times at St George’s Park. The Proteas won three and lost three.
– Dean Elgar needs 123 runs to reach 3,000 Test runs.
– Morne Morkel needs three wickets to reach 300 Test wickets.
– Vernon Philander needs nine wickets to reach 200 Test wickets.

What they said: 

Faf du Plessis press conference: 

Steve Smith press conference: 

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

The post Proteas vs Australia preview (2nd Test) appeared first on SportsClub.

The focus this time around has been on both side’s pace attacks. The conditions in South Africa are very similar to what the visitors are used to. Both sides are expected to cancel each other out where pacemen are concerned, leaving it up to the batters to have the final say.

Du Plessis confirmed that he refrained from asking the groundsmen for specific wickets.

‘I learnt my lesson from that [asking for specific pitches],’ said Du Plessis. ‘Australia and South Africa are two similar teams. We play in the same conditions. There’s nothing different that we are expecting.

‘Obviously, when you playing against a sub-continent team, you try to get an advantage somehow, but these two teams are very similar. We both will play on what we get. We’ve not asked for anything specific.

‘The Durban wicket over the last few years has definitely slowed down a bit. That’s the nature of the square. I expect it to be quite slow. It might take a bit of turn. If anything a little tennis-ball bounce.’

Steve Smith agreed with his opposite number.

‘I think it will be quite slow. It might take a bit of spin as the game goes on. I’m pretty ordinary at picking up what the wicket is going to do. Whatever it does it is about us summing it up when we get out there. The cards will be dealt out there.’

Smith unusually announced his first XI on Wednesday – an unchanged side from their last Ashes win will be selected for the first Test. This will include three seamers, a spinner and an all-rounder.

ALSO READ: Australia unchanged for the first Test

Du Plessis, on the other hand, held his cards close to his chest.

‘Temba Bavuma hasn’t recovered fully from his hand injury. So that’s the one thing I can tell. We still pondering whether we going to play seven batsmen or six batsmen and four seamers.’

The first Test starts at 10:00 on Thursday.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

The post Slow wicket expected in Durban appeared first on SportsClub.

How hard is it to win in this part of the world? In 2013, the Boks beat Les Bleus 19-10 at the Stade de France to end a 16-year drought on French soil. That victory was certainly hard-earned.

I remember seeing the players the next day at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Willem Alberts – South Africa’s star player on an unbeaten tour – was struggling to keep his balance in the customs queue. A few of the other forwards were sporting shiners and stitches. The battle in the pit of the Parisian coliseum was that brutal.

France can be a very different animal in their own territory. After all that’s happened this past week in Dublin and London, France will have their tails up. What’s more, they will be aware of the fear of failure in the Bok camp.

The Boks haven’t won a Test match since travelling to Salta in late August. Since then, they have slumped to two disappointing draws against Australia, two defeats to New Zealand – including that monumental 57-0 result in Albany – as well as a record loss to Ireland in Dublin.

To say that they are desperate for any sort of win this Saturday would be the mother of all understatements.

Coach Allister Coetzee has brought Duane Vermeulen back into the mix. One could ask why Vermeulen – one of the senior players and a former nominee for the World Rugby Player of the Year award – wasn’t in the squad from the outset. That he deserves to be there is not up for debate. Whether he deserves to carry the team’s hopes of a positive result all by himself is another story.

ALSO READ: Boks revert to type

Vermeulen should make a difference this Saturday. Having spent the past two years in Toulon, he understands the French game. He knows the language and all of this knowledge will be of value to the Boks as they go up against France’s lineout and mauling game.

Vermeulen is not going to win this game on his own, though. As Coetzee said at the team announcement on Thursday, the Boks have to be smarter at the breakdown – they conceded nine turnovers against the street smart Irish –  and they have to control the gainline. Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw and new inside centre Francois Venter will all have key roles to play in this regard.

That said, are the Boks in the right mental space? It’s believed that this four-game sojourn to the northern hemisphere will be Coetzee’s last as Bok coach. The players and coaches have made all the right noises when speaking to the press this week, but there is a sense that they are going through the motions.

The 35-point defeat to Ireland was a significant blow. A loss like that puts a team on the back foot for the rest of the tour, as Handré Pollard pointed out in an interview on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, World Rugby announced that France, and not its recommended candidate South Africa had won hosting rights to the 2023 World Cup. That decision was lauded in this part of the world, and denounced as a farce just about everywhere else.

ALSO READ: Bid loss won’t distract Boks

Already there is talk in the local media about what this result could mean for the game at the Stade de France on Saturday. The hosts will be buzzing. With a big crowd behind them, they will wage war on the Boks at the set pieces and collisions.

As was the case in 2013, there will be blood.

The first 30 minutes of the contest will be game-defining. The Boks lost the physical battles and failed to deal with the high ball in the early stages of last week’s game. By half-time, they were 14-0 down. As Coetzee said afterwards, they were always going to battle to come back from there.

Vermeulen will boost the Boks at the collisions, breakdowns and lineouts. He should also bring more to the defence in terms of on-field organisation.

The big question, however, is whether the Bok pack can deliver a more accurate scrum performance. If France get the upper hand and translate early dominance into points – as Ireland did last week– then it could be another long evening for the South Africans.

Coetzee has selected a stronger tactical-kicking flyhalf in Pollard for the clash against the French. Pollard has the ability to take the ball to the gainline, and as one of the bigger No 10s around, isn’t afraid to get stuck in on defence.

The Boks battled in the wet conditions last week, though, and the fact that the coming game will be played at 21:00pm counts against them. It’s been bitterly cold in Paris this week, and the field may be wet by kick-off.

SUPERBRU: SA Rugby magazine team’s selections

France coach Guy Novès has selected a side capable of winning the set pieces and collisions. We could see that young halfback pairing of Antoine Dupont and Anthony Belleau running at an inexperienced Bok backline combination over the course of the 80 minutes.

Then again, we may see them copying and pasting the Irish tactics of last week. Kick the ball on to the Boks’ small back three, win back possession, and then run at a fractured defence.

This is a massive clash for the Boks in the context of the tour and in the context of their season. If they lose this one, they may well lose the next two. That would see them finishing the year with a win record of 38%.

Win in Paris, and the Boks may take some momentum into the subsequent clashes in Padua and Cardiff.

It may not be enough to save Coetzee’s job, but a series of improved physical and tactical performances, and ultimately three wins would add some respectability to South Africa’s 2017 scorecard.

France – 15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Mathieu Bastareaud, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Judicael Cancoriet, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot
Subs: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Paul Jedreasiak, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Damian Penaud.

Springboks – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian de Allende.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

The post France vs Springboks preview appeared first on SportsClub.

Cricket is a game of statistics and if those statistics prove true over Bangladesh’s previous trips to South Africa, the second Test in Bloemfontein will be all over later on Sunday, with the visitors being bowled out for 180.

Bangladesh have been out-matched, bullied, and fragile opponents on two of the friendliest batting surfaces to be found in South Africa, and while the Proteas have been hugely impressive – more so in the current Test than in the opening one in Potchefstroom – the two countries look divisions apart.

And for all the hype about Bangladesh having proven themselves among the Test-playing countries, a quick look at how they have performed in South Africa in the past 15 years suggests not a lot has changed. On home soil and on the sub-continent, yes, Bangladesh are able to compete manfully in the Test arena.

But against quality opponents away from home, they still look like rabbits trapped in the headlights. Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein have simply been an extension of what we have seen before in 2002 and 2008.

Over the years South Africa average 80 runs for each wicket to fall, while each Bangladeshi wicket drops every 18 runs. This is the sixth Test to be played between the two countries in South Africa, and all previous five have been huge winning margins to the hosts. Bloemfontein will be no different.

Yet, credit should be given where it’s due, despite some rank amateurish play and decision-making by the Bangladeshis so far in Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein. To win the toss and insert the Proteas on both occasions, and then see the opposition get to 441 and 529 for 4 declared, respectively, on both occasions is simply getting things ridiculously wrong.

It’s as if Bangladesh have been afraid to bat first against a South African bowling line-up that is good, but most certainly not at 100 percent full strength. This Test match in Bloemfontein has been nothing more than a public middle net for the Proteas, one in which all the batsmen have nudged their batting averages up and where the bowlers have run amok.

Kagiso Rabada has stepped up very quickly to the role of senior bowler in this Proteas squad, especially given that Morne Morkel was ruled out of the second Test, and his 5-33 was yet another example of why he is the most exciting fast bowling talent on Planet Cricket.

Sure, the tactics against limited Bangladeshi batsmen are simple, and predictable. Even at the relatively fast-medium pace of 135km/h a well-directed short-pitched delivery will have this opposition thinking they’re facing the full might of the legendary West Indies fast bowlers on a green top. They simply aren’t equipped for chin music, and South Africa used the shorter-pitched delivery to run through the first innings.

To see an opening batsman – Soumya Sarkar – bowled behind his legs by Rabada, which started the rot for Bangladesh with their score on 13, in reply to South Africa’s 573-4 declared, only showed the porous nature of the visitors’ defence. Sure, the impressive South African quickie had thrown in a few shorter deliveries, and then pitched one fuller … but for the left-hander Sarkar to be bowled behind his legs?

As is the case with this Bangladesh Test side, one wicket brings two, and more. It’s been the case in each of the six Tests they’ve played in this country.

Since 2002, Bangladesh’s Test innings have displayed 90, 107, 131, 147, 153, 159, 170, 215, 250, 252 and 320.

South Africa’s have consisted of 247, 429, 441, 482, 496, 529 and 573.

It’s been men against boys over the past 15 years, and not much has changed in the five-day format of the game. That’s not to say that South Africa haven’t been impressive. They have – and it’s been a ruthlessness, especially in Bloemfontein, where the ball has come on to the bat quicker than it did in Potchfestroom – that has been pleasing.

Captain Faf du Plessis, one of four Proteas centurions in the first innings, reckoned that in the win in Potchefstroom, the Proteas had played almost perfect cricket. He will revise that statement, because in Bloemfontein they have been much better.

Aiden Markram looks as though he belongs in Test cricket. Dean Elgar has tightened his technique. Temba Bavuma’s spot at No 4 will come into question when AB de Villiers returns, but his fielding is electric. Rabada is improving daily. Quinton de Kock’s wicketkeeping, both to the quicker bowlers and the ever-impressive spin of Keshav Maharaj, continues on the upgrade.

And the list of positives goes on.

South Africa, weather permitting, should wrap up this Test and the series, on Sunday. And ahead of the more serious assignments that lay ahead against India and Australia, that’s worth celebrating.

Photo: Lee Warren/Getty Images

The post ‘Only’ Bangladesh but give Proteas credit appeared first on SportsClub.

The hosts picked up where they left off before tea, courtesy of Kagiso Rabada, who took his wickets tally to 49 for 2017 with a five-for. This puts him top of the standings for the year, with an average of 22.49 as the 22-year-old continues to step up in the absence of the Proteas’ senior bowlers.

Their bowling efforts came after Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla helped the Proteas reach 573-4 before they declared after lunch. Du Plessis reached his seventh century and Amla his 28th ton to become the second-highest century-getter for South Africa, behind Jacques Kallis (45).

What followed was a beautiful display by the Proteas pace attack.  In the absence of their senior pacemen – Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel – a young bowling line-up showed their inherent ability. Morkel’s absence, in particular, meant that Rabada needed a new opening partner. Up stepped Duanne Olivier, as SA got their expected quick start.

The 25-year-old took two scalps before tea as Bangladesh scampered to 61-4.

ALSO READ: SA seamers rip through Tigers’ top order

There was some hope for the Tigers through a youngster of their own. Liton Das, 22 years old, was his side’s biggest asset as he reached his second career fifty.

Despite the visitors being rocked by Rabada, who removed Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman, Das pulled together a cameo 50-run partnership with Taijul Islam. Olivier picked up his third with the dismissal of Taijul, but Das still managed to battle on to take his side close to the 150-run mark.

Rabada was on fire as Das (70) attempted to pull a hip-high short ball on his off stump, but skied a delivery off his top edge into the safe hands of Du Plessis at second slip.

Keshav Maharaj struck in the following over as the visitors stuttered on 143, but it was Rabada who wrapped up the innings to pick up his fifth scalp, the Tigers skittled for 147.

With Bangladesh 426 runs behind, the visitors were sent in to bat again. They ended the day on 7-0, with a mountain to climb on day three.

Scorecard 

Photo: Philip Brown/Getty Images

The post Dominant Proteas tame Tigers appeared first on SportsClub.

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.

Scorecard

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

The post SA seamers destroy Tigers’ top order appeared first on SportsClub.

The Proteas should be pleased with the way things have gone on day four. South Africa declared an hour and a half before tea after amassing a 423-run lead. Morné Morkel then struck twice in his first over to leave Bangladesh reeling at 0-2.

The Proteas have four sessions to claim seven wickets. More than hour of play was lost in the second session on day four due to rain. There may be further interruptions over the next 24 hours or so.

The hosts showed plenty of intent during the first session. Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma clubbed together for a 142-run partnership – a fourth-wicket record against Bangladesh. The rate at which these batsmen scored allowed the Proteas to build a lead in excess of 400 and declare well before tea.

That said, the Proteas didn’t have everything their own way after lunch. Du Plessis was denied a richly deserved century when he was trapped lbw by Mominul Haque. Bavuma and Quinton de Kock perished in quick succession after the rain break, with Mominul and wicketkeeper Liton Das combining brilliantly to effect both dismissals.

The Proteas certainly made the period before tea count. Morkel bowled Tamim Iqbal with his fourth delivery and then wrapped Mominul on the pad two balls later. The South African spearhead thought he had the key wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim in the third over when the ball clattered into the stumps. A television replay, however, confirmed that Morkel had overstepped and a no-ball was called.

The Proteas continued to apply the pressure. Imrul Kayes edged a Kagiso Rabada delivery to the slip cordon and was put down by Du Plessis. The hosts have already put down several chances behind the wicket in this Test. It’s certainly something new coach Ottis Gibson should look to address in the coming weeks.

Kayes’ luck ran out on the stroke of tea. The left-handed batsman pushed at a delivery from Keshav Maharaj and edged the ball to De Kock.

Will Bangladesh survive the third session? The tourists will hope for a further rain disruption. There’s a chance that play may conclude earlier than expected due to the gloomy conditions – as was the case on day three.

Even then, the odds are against Bangladesh batting for the duration of day five to save this Test.

SA (1st innings) 496-3 declared  – Dean Elgar 199, Hashim Amla 137, Aiden Markram 97
Bangladesh (1st innings) 320 – Mushfiqur Rahim 44,  Mominul Haque 77, Mahmudullah 66
SA (2nd innings) 247-6 declared – Faf du Plessis 81, Temba Bavuma 71, Mominul Haque 3-27
Bangladesh (2nd innings) 49-3 – Imrul Kayes 32, Morné Morkel 2-19
Bangladesh need 375 runs to win

Scorecard

The post Morkel strikes after SA declare appeared first on SportsClub.