NEW ROAD

(Day one of three: South Africa A won the toss)

South Africa 397-3 (90 overs)

Lunch

Junaid Siddique, an occasional off-break bowler, put the brakes on a rampant opening partnership between the South Africa captain Graeme Smith and JP Duminy when he struck in the last over before lunch to dismiss Smith who was caught behind for a superb 87 bludgeoned off 88 balls.

The South African line-up includes seven players from the team which convincingly won the 2nd Test against England in Leeds along with the left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and paceman Monde Zondeki who are both playing their first matches on the tour.

Bangladesh’s young attack looked impressive early on with their opening pair Sajidul Islam and Nazmal Hossein generating plenty of pace and finding a few edges which flew wide.

However, after bringing up the 50 partnership in the 12th over, Smith and Duminy brought up the 100 in the 19th with Duminy hoisting Musharraf Hossain over long-off for a six.

Rarely threatened as they accelerated to compile their half centuries, the South Africans look set to go in to lunch with an unbroken stand before Mushfiqur Rahim gratefully accepted the chance off Smith as he dabbed at Siddique.

Tea

JP Duminy was unbeaten on 127 at tea after reaching his eighth first class century to put South Africa in total control. The teams took an early tea after Bangladesh fought back to claim another wicket in the over before a break when Hashim Amla was caught on the long-on boundary for a breezy 55.

In perfect batting conditions, the pair put on 137 for the second wicket off only 33 overs as they capitalised on an easy paced pitch against their inexperienced opponents.

Duminy, 24, is one of his country’s brightest talents and although he has been on four senior tours he has yet to make his Test debut. He brought up his hundred off 166 balls, hitting eight fours and a towering six.

Amla did offer one chance, at mid-wicket when he had scored 53, but it wasn’t expensive and his dismissal brought Jacques Kallis to the crease and a man eager to make amends for an uncharacteristic barren patch.

Close

JP Duminy put his side in a commanding position on the opening day with a superb 166 from 234 deliveries. When he was run out by a direct hit attempting to steal a single to mid-wicket he was tantalisingly short of overhauling his career-best score of 169.

With tour matches restricted to 100 overs for the first innings, Jacques Kallis (52 not out) has ten overs left to continue to play himself in to some much needed form ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston.

South Africa’s batsmen made the most of a perfect batting wicket and some sloppy fielding to give their young and inexperienced opponents the run around in the field. Graeme Smith, the captain, Hashim Amla and Kallis all scored half centuries but it was Duminy, 24, who was the lynchpin of the innings.

Duminy, who has been on four successive senior tours but has yet to make his Test debut said:” It was good to spend time in the middle and graft hard and I was pleased with my performance. It’s difficult to stay fit and focused over a long tour and not be in the Test team but I have to take every opportunity that comes my way. Wherever I bat in the order I’ll be prepared when my chance comes.”