New Road (Tour match - first day of three): South Africans 397-3 v Bangladesh A
A fine innings of 166 by JP Duminy helped the South Africans pile up 397 for three on the opening day of their three-day tour match against Bangladesh A at New Road.
The 24-year-old Duminy, in facing 234 deliveries, struck one six and 12 fours, having signalled his three-figure intentions during a 155-run opening stand with Graeme Smith, the captain, who scored 87.
Following skipper Smith’s departure, Duminy added a further 137 with Hashim Amla who scored 55. Duminy and Smith had to be on their guard in the early stages of their partnership after their side had won the toss and decided to bat on an easy-paced pitch in hot and humid conditions.
The pace pairing of Sajidul Islam and Nazmul Hossain caused both batsmen concerns on a number of occasions but once their spells ended the opening batsmen were able to slot more comfortably into the run-scoring groove without being severely troubled.
Duminy, one of four players - including Robin Peterson, Andre Nel and Monde Zondeki - yet to appear in the Test series, boosted his score with a big six off slow left-armer Musharraf Hossain.
Smith completed his half-century off 56 balls, including eight fours, before helping himself to a powerful straight six off Hossain.
Bangladesh, fielding a side with an average age of just under 20, finally struck off the final ball before lunch when Smith dabbed at a delivery from spinner Junaid Siddique and edged a catch behind to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
By then he had notched one six and 11 fours off 88 balls and had looked on course for a century to add to the 107 he scored in the first Test match against England at Lord’s.
Left-hander Duminy, unbeaten on 51 at lunch, was joined after the interval by Amla who helped forge another prosperous partnership which easily pushed the Proteas past the 200 mark in the 43rd over.
Duminy finally completed the ninth first-class century of his career 11 overs later off 166 balls with one six and with eight fours. It was his second century at New Road after his 116 for South Africa Under-19 against their England counterparts in August 2003.
His partnership with Amla spanned 33 overs before hard-working Bangladesh eventually made their second breakthrough.
It came when Amla was caught on the long-on boundary by Nazmul Hossain off Dhiman Ghosh after stroking four fours off 99 deliveries.
Duminy’s innings ended when he was run out by a direct hit from mid-wicket by Shakib Al Hasan only three runs short of his career-best after putting a further 68 with Jacques Kallis, who was undefeated with 52.
