Resilient South Africa put up 278 runs on the board at the end of Day 1

Half-centuries from skipper Dean Elgar, Keegan Petersen and Temba Bavuma put South Africa in the ascendency against Bangladesh as the hosts ended the first day of the 2nd Test at a comfortable position of 278/5 in Port Elizabeth.

Opting to bat first, skipper Elgar continued his good run-of-form as he racked up the third-consecutive 50+ score of the series. But this wasn't a typical Elgar inning, where he missed and played throughout his stay at the crease.

It was an innings full of intent from the Proteas skipper as he threw caution to the wind, hammering ten boundaries in his 89-ball 70. This was Elgar's third-fastest half-century in Test cricket.

The southpaw added 52 runs for the first wicket with Sarel Erwee (24 off 40 deliveries) in just 12 0vers before the association was ended by Khaled Ahmed, who induced an outside edge of the latter's bat on the last ball of the 12th over.

However, the dismissal of Erwee didn't bring much joy to the Bangladeshis as Elgar continued in his merry way. At the same time, Keegan Peterson carried on from where he had left in Durban.

The duo added 81 runs for the 2nd wicket on either side of the Lunch break as Bangladesh bowlers, especially the pair of Mehidy Hasan and Ebadot Hossain, continued to err in their line and length and leak runs.

Elgar's stay was finally ended by Taijul Islam, who included an edge off the South African bat in the 33rd over.

Following a rain break in the second session, Bangladesh did manage to assert some discipline in their bowling. Still, Peterson and Bavuma continued in their merry way to rack up their respective half-centuries.

The duo added 51 runs for the third wicket before Islam struck again, trapping Petersen, who was pinned on the pads after running down the wicket to the spinner,  for a well-compiled 124-ball 64.

South Africa went into the Tea break at 199/3, and in the last session, the hosts added another 79 runs for the loss of wickets of Ryan Rickelton, who fell eight runs short of his maiden Test 50 and Bavuma, who fell to Khaled for a well-compiled 162-ball 67.

Khaled Ahmed, who replaced the injured Taskin Ahmed in this Test, finished the day with impressive figures of 2/59 in 20 overs, as did Taijul, who returned with figures of 3/77.

Mehidy and Ebadot had a pretty disappointing outing on the first day as they leaked 0/133 between them in 35 overs. Bangladesh will hope their senior bowlers return firing on all cylinders on the second morning and restrict South Africa to as low a score as possible.

Brief Scores:

South Africa- 278/5 in 90 overs

Dean Elgar- 70 (89)

Temba Bavuma- 67 (162)

Keegan Petersen- 64 (124)

Taijul Islam- 3/77 (32)

Khaled Ahmed- 2/59 (20)