Smith looks in superb form ahead of South Africa's tour to Australia

Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla hit superb unbeaten centuries as South Africa made 299-1 on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein.

The tourists won the toss and bowled tidily to constrict Smith and Neil McKenzie, who reached lunch on 61-0.

But the openers rallied in the middle session and had put on 102 runs before Shahadat Hossain had McKenzie caught.

Amla (103no) joined Smith (138no) and the pair dominated the Bangladesh attack in forging a 197-run stand.

The Proteas could hardly have wished for a better start to the two-match series, which proceeds their eagerly anticipated tour to Australia in December.

Despite scoring slowly in the morning session, captain Smith and McKenzie both looked in fine form with Smith seemingly fully recovered from the elbow problem that saw him miss the end of South Africa's tour to England in august.

In front of former England coach Duncan Fletcher, who is working as a consultant to Micky Arthur's men, McKenzie pulled Shahadat to bring up his 3000th Test run before Smith notched his 23rd Test half-century.

Former England coach Fletcher is in a consultancy role with the Proteas

"We weren't surprised when they decided to send us in but we would have batted first if we had won the toss," said McKenzie. "It wasn't a pitch to drive on and they probably bowled a bit too short early on."

The departure of McKenzie, taken by Mehrab Hossain jnr at backward point, proved to be the only glimmer of light on a disappointing day for Bangladesh.

The tourists became bereft of ideas and that enabled Smith and Amla to cope comfortably with a wilting attack.

Both centurions survived chances - Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim could not make a stumping when Smith was on 83 and Amla was on 93 when he was dropped at slip by Mashrafe Mortaza off Mehrab.

Smith responded by lifting Saqibul over midwicket to bring up his 17th Test century and Amla hit Mehrab over the top for his sixth.

"I was quite happy with our bowling, although we could possibly have bowled at the stumps a bit more," said Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful.

"If we had held our chances it would have been better but they batted very well."

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