South Africa overcome Taijul blow to reach 199-3 at tea

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 2-49 to rock South Africa but the hosts stayed stable by reaching 199-3 at tea on the opening day of the second and final Test at Port Elizabeth on Friday.

Temba Bavuma was batting on 33 with Ryan Rickelton on 7 after the second session which was halted for sometime due to a sudden rain.

Skipper Dean Elgar so far was the top-scorer with 70 after South Africa opted to bat first. It was the third straight half-century for the South African captain in this series, having scored 67 and 64 in the first Test. Opener Sarel Ewree was out on 24, BSS reports.

Keegan Petersen was the other one to make a handy 64.

Bangladesh fast bowler Syed Khaled Ahmed broke through with the wicket of Sarel Erwee (24) after he and Elgar put on 52 for the opening stand.

Khaled could have got Erwee on 4 during the third over of the day when he beat his front foot defense. The umpire turned down his appeal but Bangladesh didn’t take any review. Later the HawkEye showed the ball could have crashed the stump.

South Africa went to the lunch with 107-1. After the lunch session left arm spinner Taijul Islam got reward for his tight line and length with the prized scalp of Deal Elgar who nicked one behind the wicket. Elgar struck 10 fours for his 89 ball-70.

Taijul then got another big one after the game resumed following a spell of shower. He trapped Petersen leg-before for 64 to break a 51-run partnership between him and Bavuma.

Petersen hit nine fours in his innings for which he played 124 balls. Bavuma however kept South Africa unscathed till the tea session.

Bangladesh opened the bowling with Mehidy Hasan Miraz alongside Syed Khaled Ahmed and in doing so, became the first team in Port Elizabeth’s Gqeberha ground to open with spin since 1889.

But Miraz who took six wickets in the first Test, couldn’t give any torrid time to the batters.