South Africa in control after day 1

Stumps was called for day 1 when Bangladesh lost their eighth wicket with Dale Steyn sending back Mohammad Shahid for 1.

It was a disappointing day for the Tigers batting first after winning the toss, with several batsmen getting set and then losing their wicket against the run of play.

The 69-run stand for the 2nd wicket between Mominul-Imrul and the 94-run partnership between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur were the bright spots for Bangladesh on a gloomy day at Mirpur.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was the top-scorer with 65 runs. Mominul Haque managed 40 while Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah got out in the thirties.

JP Duminy was the surprise package of the day, as he took three good wickets for 27 runs in 15 overs.

Dale Steyn took his 400th Test wicket early and finished with three wickets for 30 in 16.1 overs.

From 180 for 3, Bangladesh lost their way to lose the next five wickets for 66 runs.

Bangladesh lost their seventh wicket late in the last session when Morne Morkel sent back Shakib Al Hasan for 35 with a jaffer of a delivery.

Morkel’s back of a length delivery swerved from leg stump to off, opened Shakib up like a can of beans and took the outside edge of the allrounder’s bat.

Shakib faced 65 deliveries and hammered four boundaries in his knock.

Duminy grabbed his third wicket of the first day when Litton Das fell to a premeditated sweep shot for only 3 runs.

Litton was the sixth man out for Tigers when he top-edged Duminy’s delivery for a simple catch to Elgar at short midwicket.

Bangladesh’s hopes for a big first innings total were dented when Dean Elgar sent back Mushfiqur Rahim in the last session of day one.

Mushfiqur got a faint touch to Elgar’s delivery and was dismissed for 65. He became the first Bangladesh captain to score a fifty against South Africa in Test matches.

Mushy played 125 balls and thumped seven boundaries in his timely innings.

Dale Steyn broke the 94-run 4th wicket partnership by dismissing Mahmudullah for 35 with a superb display of sharp, reverse-swing bowling.

The full and straight delivery from the Proteas pacer swung in late, Mahmudullah went for the flick and struck it straight to Bavuma at short mid-wicket.

Mahmudullah looked good during his knock of 35, played 91 balls and smacked three fours to the delight of the home crowd.

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur went past his 15th fifty in Test matches in the last session of the first day, his second against South Africa.

He reached his milestone after playing 79 balls with seven classy boundaries in his innings.

The 50-run stand for the 4th wicket between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah restored stability after Duminy rocked Bangladesh earlier in the session.

Duminy gave his team the upper hand early in the post-lunch session with two quick wickets in the space of eight balls.

Imrul Kayes was the third wicket to fall for Bangladesh when he misread the length of Duminy’s delivery, played from the crease and was struck in front of middle and leg.

Bangladeshi opener played sensibly for 93 balls to score 30 with three boundaries to his name.

JP Duminy struck almost immediately after lunch when he dismissed the well-set Mominul Haque for 40, and gave South Africa their 2nd wicket of the game.

Mominul was instrumental in the 69-run stand with Imrul and steadied the innings after Tamim threw his wicket away recklessly.

Bangladesh’s one-down batsman played 87 balls during his stay at the crease and struck six boundaries in his knock.

Bangladesh went into lunch on day 1 with Mominul unbeaten on 35 and Imrul 28 not out, and reached 75 for one after 29 overs.

After the early loss of Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque batted sensibly to bring up the 50-run stand for the 2nd wicket to repair Bangladesh’s innings.

Dale Steyn became the 2nd South African after Shaun Pollock to take 400 Test wickets when he sent back Tamim Iqbal for 6 early in the first session of the 2nd Test.

Tamim played a loose shot, chasing a wide delivery away from the body with an angled bat and managed to get a top-edge to Hashim Amla at first slip.

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and decided to bat first in the 2nd and final Test match of the series against South Africa at Mirpur stadium.

The weather looked good for a game at Mirpur where Bangladesh faced South Africa in the 2nd Test of the 2-match series. Photo: BCB

South Africa have not lost an away Test series since 2006, and they have always won in Bangladesh.

The home side, however, will hope to build on the advantage they wrested during the Chittagong draw to end the recent string of successful results at home with another unprecedented outcome.

Tigers captain is confident that his team can beat South Africa in Mirpur following the hosts' impressive performance in the Chittagong Test.

The Mirpur pitch will offer more bounce and a bit more pace than the one in Chittagong.

The fact that it has been mostly under covers in the week leading up to the second Test will also play a role in how it behaves. The forecast is for more of the same: rain and more rain.

Bangladesh Team

Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain, Wicketkeeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Mohammad Shahid, Mustafizur Rahman and Jubair Hossain

South Africa Team

D Elgar, S van Zyl, F du Plessis, HM Amla (Captain), T Bavuma, JP Duminy, DJ Vilas (Wicketkeeper), VD Philander, DW Steyn, SR Harmer, M Morkel