Dean Elgar fell one agonising run short of his maiden double hundred

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Dean Elgar scored a career-best 199 and Hashim Amla made a superb 137 as South Africa punished Bangladesh for the second day in a row in Potchefstroom.

Elgar and Amla’s contributions saw South Africa declare on a mammoth total of 496. After that, the Proteas maintained the upper hand by striking thrice before the end of play.

Starting off the day on 298/1, South Africa continued to punish Bangladesh as Elgar and Amla continued from where they left off.

The duo looked in impeccable form and ended up converting their 102-run partnership into an enormous 215-run stand.

With Elgar having surpassed the 150-run mark and Amla bringing up his hundred, the Proteas were in complete control.

Hashim Amla celebrates after scoring his 27th Test century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

However, in the 118th over of the match, Bangladesh finally got the reward they were looking for as Amla was caught by Mehidy Hasan Miraz at backward point off the bowling of Shafiul Islam for 137, which came off 200 balls and included 17 boundaries and a six.

Elgar kept on going after Amla’s dismissal and was nearing his maiden double century, but it didn’t come as he was caught by Mominul Haque at midwicket off the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman for 199, which came off 388 deliveries and included 15 boundaries and three sixes.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 51-run partnership before the Proteas declared at the tea break on 496/3.

Du Plessis scored 26 off 49 balls, which included four boundaries, while Bavuma made 31 off 87 deliveries, which included two boundaries and a six.

Mustafizur and Shafiul picked up one wicket apiece.

Trailing by 496 runs, Bangladesh got off to a horrible start as opener Imrul Kayes was caught by debutant Aiden Markram at second slip off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada for seven runs.

Wicketkeeper Liton Das, who opened the batting with Kayes, managed to muster 25 runs before he was caught by Amla at first slip off the bowling of Morne Morkel.

Having lost two quick wickets, Mominul and captain Mushfiqur Rahim helped Bangladesh recover through a 67-run partnership.

But, just as Bangladesh were rebuilding their innings, Rahim was caught by Markram at short leg off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj for 44.

Mominul and Tamim Iqbal ensured Bangladesh did not lose another wicket as they put together an unbeaten 24-run partnership before stumps was called.

Mominul finished on 28 off 64 balls, which included four boundaries, while Tamim remained undefeated on 22 off 34 deliveries, which included three boundaries and the six he hit off the very last ball of the day.

Rabada, Morkel and Maharaj claimed one wicket each.

Bangladesh ended day two on 127/3 and will continue batting on Saturday at 10:00 local time or 08:00 local time.