South Africa seamer Morne Morkel removed Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque in the first over after Bangladesh were set 424 to win
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
South Africa sliced through Bangladesh’s top order before the rain halted their charge on the fourth day of the first Test in Potchefstroom.
Captain Faf du Plessis and batsman Temba Bavuma scored 81 and 71 respectively en route to setting Bangladesh a target of 424 to win.
Morne Morkel and Keshav Maharaj took over after that as they took three wickets between them to leave the Proteas just seven wickets away from victory.
Starting off the day on 54/2, South Africa did not make a good start to the penultimate day of the first Test as after adding 16 runs to their overnight score, Hashim Amla was caught behind off the bowling of Mustafizur Rahman for 28.
Du Plessis and Bavuma made up for the loss of Amla with a 142-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their fifties.
With the Proteas in cruise control and their lead steadily increasing, Bangladesh were in desperate need of a wicket.
However, they had to wait until the 49th over to get it when Du Plessis was trapped lbw off the bowling of Mominul Haque for 81, which came off 101 balls and included six boundaries and a six.
Faf du Plessis struck his 15th half-century in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Du Plessis challenged the umpire’s decision, but it went in vain as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit middle stump.
Just three balls after Du Plessis was dismissed, the rain came and the match was suspended for approximately 50 minutes.
Bavuma fell shortly after the rain delay as he was caught behind off the bowling of Mominul for 71, which came off 107 balls and included seven boundaries.
Temba Bavuma scored his ninth Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Quinton de Kock only made eight runs before he was on his way back to the pavilion. Not long after De Kock’s dismissal, South Africa declared on 247/6, which set Bangladesh a target of 424 to win.
Mominul was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Mustafizur snapped up two and Shafiul Islam chipped in with one.
Chasing 424 to win, Bangladesh got off to a horrendous start as Morkel clean bowled Tamim Iqbal on the fourth ball of the innings before taking out Mominul two balls later.
Imrul Kayes and captain Mushfiqur Rahim began to rebuild Bangladesh’s innings, but after amassing a 49-run partnership, Kayes was caught behind off the bowling of Maharaj for 32.
As soon as Kayes was dismissed, the tea break was taken and the rain returned, which led to stumps being called just over an hour later.
Rahim finished unbeaten on 16, which came off 46 balls and included a boundary.
Morkel was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Maharaj claimed one.
Bangladesh ended day four on 49/3 and will continue batting on Monday at 10:00 local time or 08:00 local time.