Honours even in South Africa

Mashrafe Mortaza removes Neil Mackenzie to leave the hosts 20 for one at stumps

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Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Mortaza grabbed a late wicket to frustrate South Africa on the opening day of the second Test in Centurion.

The tourists’ batsmen had twice succumbed meekly in their first-Test defeat by an innings and 129 runs, but showed far greater grit today before eventually being bowled out for 250 just before the close.

Junaid Siddique top-scored for the Tigers with 67 while wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim added 65 late on, including the majority of a 56-run stand for the final wicket with Mahbabal Alam, to irritate the home side.

And the Proteas suffered a setback before the close when they lost Neil McKenzie for a seven-ball duck, caught by debutant Raquibal Hasan at point off the bowling of Mortaza, to leave them 20 for one at stumps.

Captain Graeme Smith (15 not out) and Hashim Amla (five) remained unbeaten.

Monde Zondeki returned to the Proteas’ Test squad for the first time in over three years, in place of injured off-spinner Paul Harris, as the hosts opted for an all-seam attack on a green-looking SuperSport Park wicket.

Bangladesh handed a debut to Raquibal and on winning the toss Mohammad Ashraful bravely chose to bat after the Tigers had struggled against the South Africa quicks in the first Test, when they managed scores of just 153 and 159.

Ashraful’s decision was justified by a spirited display with the bat that was only kept in check by Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel who grabbed four wickets apiece for the Proteas.

Junnaid Siddique avoids a Morne Morkel bouncer on his way to 67 in Bangladesh's 250

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Bangladesh had begun well to reach 54 for the loss of Imrul Kayes, caught by Smith off Ntini, before Morkel struck twice in consecutive overs just before lunch.

Tamim Iqbal had played patiently to reach 31 before he became Morkel’s first victim, edging a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, before Ashraful chipped a return catch 10 minutes before the break.

Ntini got his second wicket of the day soon after the interval when left-hander Mehrab Hossain jnr snicked an angled delivery to Jacques Kallis at second slip.

Morkel then got back-to-back wickets again by claiming Raqibul (15), caught by Smith at slip, before Shakib (30) dragged back onto his stumps.

In between Junaid brought up his third Test fifty from 85 balls, including four boundaries.

Junaid fell to Ntini soon after the tea break and the tourists tail threatened to follow quickly until Mushfiqur’s late flurry.

The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman twice lofted Dale Steyn over the fence to race to his half-century from 78 balls. He eventually fell when he top-edged a Zondeki delivery that AB de Villiers held onto at square leg.

South Africa had seven overs to negotiate before the close, but lost McKenzie when he offered a chance to Raqibul, who clutched onto the ball at the second attempt.