October 26 Saturday 2002
South Africa hit back after shaky start

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa: South Africa recovered from an embarrassing start to claim the upper hand by the close on day one of the second Test against Bangladesh on Friday as the North West Cricket Stadium at Potchefstroom became South Africa's 11th and the world's 86th Test venue.

Herschelle Gibbs was undefeated on 36 after his opening partner Graeme Smith was dismissed in the final over of the day, fending at the first delivery from occasional off-spinner Sanwar Hossain to be caught behind for 24.

Earlier, Bangladesh made the most of winning the toss, reaching lunch at 124 for one on a pristine batting strip. Hannan Sarkar and Al Sahariar compiled an opening partnership in excess of 50 for only the second time in Bangladesh's Test history.

The South African bowlers appeared to have little answer to the blazing strokeplay of the Bangladeshi openers, and the fielding became increasingly ragged as Test cricket's minnows punched well above their weight for a session.

When South Africa did eventually force the breakthrough there appeared to be an element of luck about it, Al Sahariar (30) caught by Graeme Smith at third slip off the second ball bowled by seamer Mornantau Hayward.

Replays suggested the ball had struck Sahariar's body rather than the bat. Sarkar rode his luck at times, dropped by Martin van Jaarsveld off Makhaya Ntini on five and then again by Smith off the bowling of Hayward on 26.

Shortly after lunch he looked to have been given another chance by Mark Boucher when the wicketkeeper failed to move for a chance that flew to his right off Ntini, but Sarkar's knock came to an end the next delivery when Kallis pocketed an edge at second slip.

Sarkar made a career-best 65 in a little over two hours, hitting 11 fours.

Two balls later, Nitni struck again, this time trapping Sanwar Hossain lbw for a duck. South Africa continued to make inroads into the Bangladesh top order in the next over from Pollock, Habibul Bashar presenting Boucher with a routine catch behind the stumps to depart for 40.