BBC SPORT | Cricket | SA in control after poor start

Second Test, Potchefstroom. Bangladesh 215; South Africa 61-1 (stumps, day one)

Bangladesh slumped from a healthy position at lunch to a poor one at stumps as bad technique from their middle-order batsmen undermined their earlier efforts.

The lunch-time situation of 124-1 became 179-6 at ta and ultimately 215 all out.

And in the final hour Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs compiled a decent stand of 61 for South Africa's first wicket before Smith fell in the final over.

At the start of the day, Hannan Sarkar (65) and Al Sahariar (30) put on 52 for the first wicket, while Hannan added 84 with Habibul for the second.

Makhaya Ntini got the treatment when he was hit for three fours in one over early on.

Hannan Sarkar pulls
Sarkar went on to hit a fine 65

Nantie Hayward claimed South Africa's first wicket when he had Al Sahariar caught in the slips.

Hannan and Habibul Bashar (40) then enjoyed the most productive stand of the innings as they added 84 for the second wicket.

Ntini finally had Hannan Sarkar caught at second slip at the start of the second session and two balls later Sanwar Hossein was trapped lbw for a duck.

In the subsequent over, bowled by Shaun Pollock, Habibul Bashar played a cut shot to a ball too close to his body and Mark Boucher gleefully held the chance.

Three wickets had fallen in nine balls and the damage was irreparable.

The scoring rate, which had been excellent in the first session, then ground to a virtual halt as captain Khaled Mashud and Rafiqul Islam attempted to build a recovery.

Back to the pavilion

Rafiqul's 44-ball effort had taken him to six when a square cut off Kallis went straight to Herschelle Gibbs at backward point.

And four overs later, Mashud followed him back to the pavilion when he was caught at third slip off his gloves.

After tea, things failed to improve for Bangladesh when Pollock claimed his second wicket.

The tail then completely collapsed to leave Alok Kapali stranded on 38 not out.

South Africa : Shaun Pollock (capt.), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith, Martin van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher (wkt), Claude Henderson, Nantie Hayward.

Bangladesh: Hannan Sarkar, Al Sahariar, Alok Kapali, Habibul Bashar, Manjural Islam, Talha Jubair, Tapash Baisya, Tushar Imran, Khaled Mashud (capt, wkt), Sanwar Hossain, Rafiqul Islam.

Umpires: Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe) and Daryl Harper (Australia)


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