The Pitch was devoid of any grass; the temperature was in excess of 43 degrees and the humidity reached 70. The new South African Test captain was desperately hoping for the toss to go his way but unfortunately it didn’t. It meant that his bowlers were going to be subjected to some real dead-bat playing by the Bangladeshi’s against his key bowlers. There strategy was to wear the Proteas down-to make them wilt in the heat. For a while it worked.

The opening spell from Pollock was as economical as ever while Ntini was the aggressor. Runs where hard to come by and the first three boundaries came via the vacant third man area. Keeping three slips in place is good and well but the issue was always whether the ball would even carry to them. Surprisingly a short leg wasn’t part of the starting strategy. On this pith Pollock had to bowl wicket -to-wicket and look for the LBW rather than the outside edge. It meant him bowling his last few overs to a seven-two field.

The first wicket to go down was Omar. Pollock got a delivery to move off the straight and Boucher did the rest. Unfortunately that was all the success the South Africans were to enjoy until the lunch break came with Bangladesh on 78 for 1.

Omar and Bashar had weathered the storm and placed their team in a position that no many critics would have thought possible.

Post Lunch session

With South Africa desperate for wickets, they turned to their tried and tested system of drying up the runs from one end and attacking from the other. Ntini bowled some fierce deliveries, and helped by some poor techniques on the backfoot, the Bangladesh batsmen succumbed. Too many batsmen didn’t get into line properly and one has to wonder how, after being in international cricket for some time now, the batsmen still have such glaring technical issues to deal with.

Paul Adams came into the match after a long lay off and desperately wanted to show that his return would yield benefits to the Proteas. It did.

Bowling a good line and getting all the spin he would have hoped for, he snared five wickets and sent a powerful message to all his detractors that he can perform the role of the front-line spinner if given the backing. Although he didn’t bowl any big spinning deliveries, this performance illustrated that his control has improved considerably. Perhaps he has found the optimum pace to bowl at on the subcontinent.

Stars for Bangladesh were few and far between and only Basher stood out. Sadly he was not supported.

Session until end of play

The South African skipper in his first match in charge would be bitterly disappointed with his innings. Wanting to establish early authority, he was the first man out when he flashed at a wide delivery.

Gibbs played one shot too many and was well caught by the keeper. It was a huge wicket for Bangladesh.

Somehow the Bangladeshi’s have to find a way to dry up the runs and keep to their disciplines. Too many no balls, overthrows and general sloppiness in the opening session of the fielding performance released a lot of pressure. However, with spinning options still available to them tomorrow, the Proteas may just have their work cut out for them when play resumes. They will look to post a big score and then to bowl the local lads out quickly.

With Rudolph and Dippenaar needing to cement their place, it should be an intriguing day two.

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd