Dean Elgar hits fifty to extend South Africa’s lead

Only one wicket fell in the morning session but Bangladesh created several chances and should have dismissed Elgar at least twice

Lunch South Africa 105 for 1 (Elgar 62*, Petersen 21*) & 367 lead Bangladesh 298 by 174 runs

Only one wicket fell in the morning session but Bangladesh, sans Taskin Ahmed for most of the session after an apparent shoulder injury, created several chances and should have dismissed Elgar at least twice. They thought they did in the second over of the day when his defence was beaten by a Mehidy Hasan delivery that drifted in and hit on the back pad, but Elgar was given not-out on field and Bangladesh’s review was unsuccessful on umpire’s call.

Khaled Ahmed shared the opening bowling duties on the fourth morning and found Elgar’s edge, but the chance fell short of a wide slip. Ebadot Hossain then replaced Khaled and brought some fire to Bangladesh’s effort when Elgar drove a ball back to him, and Ebadot threw the ball back at the South African captain in frustration, followed by some words. Umpire Adrian Holdstock had to ask the pair to calm down.

Ebadot’s reward came against the other opener, Sarel Erwee, who patiently worked his way to eight off 50 balls before the fast bowler beat his inside-edge with a full delivery that angled in. Though Erwee indicated he had hit the ball, Bangladesh reviewed, and Ultra Edge revealed no contact while ball-tracking confirmed it was going on to hit the middle and leg stump. South Africa’s opening stand was broken on 48.

In the next over, Elgar, on 34, got a thick edge off Mehidy, but Nazimul Hossain Shanto, at first slip, attempted to take the catch reverse-cupped and it bobbled out. Three overs after that, Elgar, on 43, tried to steer an Ebadot delivery to third man but got an edge again, and the ball burst out of second slip Yasir Ali’s hands. Elgar went on to score fifty off 73 balls when he punched a Khaled short ball wide of gully.

Just when Bangladesh may have thought things couldn’t get worse, they did. Two overs after Elgar reached fifty, Keegan Petersen was struck on the back pad by Khaled and Bangladesh appealed. Marais Erasmus gave it not out, Khaled wanted a review but Mominul Haque did not even consider it and replays showed the ball would have gone on 13 at the time. It proved to be a costly missed opportunity for Bangladesh as Petersen’s partnership with Elgar grew to 57. Taskin returned to bowl 10 minutes before lunch, with the sun breaking through, a big workload will be expected of him if Bangladesh aim to bowl South Africa out while keeping the target within reasonable limits.