The match is Potchefstroom's first at the highest level and Pollock felt the groundstaff had been too cautious in their preparations.

"It wasn't a great day to be a bowler," he lamented.

"I must admit I didn't think the wicket would play like that, it was very flat and for the first day of a Test match it's not really what you need.

"The first morning it should do something."

Pollock was one of three South Africans to put down chances on the first day and the South African captain admitted that he was disappointed with his side's fielding display.

"It's a bit frustrating because we've really been working hard on it," he admitted.

"We've put in some really good slip fielding sessions and tried to extend the guys as much as we can.

"It was a flat wicket so when you get those chances you've got to take them."

Bangladesh got away to a flying start, reaching lunch on 124 for one against South Africa's attacking fields but they were pegged back after the interval as Pollock sought to put the breaks on.

"I was attacking in the first session and wanted to get wickets and I always knew we could pull it back and go defensive if it didn't work," he said.